Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced strong opposition to a potential United States sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, warning that such a decision could seriously undermine the strategic balance of power in the Middle East. His remarks came just hours before the opening of the NATO Summit in Ankara, where critical issues of security and military procurement are expected to take center stage.
F-35: The Israeli prime minister’s unequivocal stance
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, the Israeli prime minister was unambiguous, stating: “I don’t think they should be given the F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets.” He argued that transferring advanced American fighter aircraft to Turkey “would upset the balance of power in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israel’s air superiority and also by America’s posture in the region.” While describing Turkey as “a great country,” Netanyahu made clear that he strongly disagrees with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s policies, asserting that the Turkish president has made public threats against Israel.
The timing ahead of the NATO Summit
Netanyahu’s intervention comes at a particularly critical moment, as the NATO Summit kicks off in Ankara on Tuesday, bringing together Alliance leaders alongside United States President Donald Trump. The question of defense cooperation between Washington and Ankara remains firmly in the spotlight, while the prospect of a rapprochement between the two countries on arms deals continues to draw significant reactions.
It is worth recalling that in 2019, the United States removed Turkey from the F-35 co-production and procurement program following Ankara’s decision to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense system — a move that triggered a serious crisis in relations between the two NATO allies. That decision effectively locked Turkey out of the fifth-generation American fighter jet program, and the issue has remained unresolved ever since.
