Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the United States not to sell its advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, arguing it would “upset the power balance” in the region.
Benjamin Netanyahu said he does not believe Turkey should receive F-35 fighter jets or engines for its fighter aircraft because doing so could upset the balance of power in the Middle East, which he said is maintained by Israel’s air superiority and the United States’ presence in the region.
“I don’t think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets, because that’ll upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also, I think, by America’s posture in the Middle East,” Netanyahu told Fox News’ morning program “Fox & Friends.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Netanyahu considers a close ally, is scheduled to leave for Ankara later Monday to attend a NATO summit.
Last month, Trump suggested he might take steps that would please Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan when asked about Turkey’s efforts to obtain F110 jet engines and rejoin the F-35 program.
“I’m probably going to do something that’s going to make him very happy,” Trump told reporters when asked about Erdoğan’s interest in the fighter jets and whether he would bring a “big gift bag” to Ankara for the NATO summit.
The F-35 is a stealth fighter jet built by Lockheed Martin and developed by the United States with partner countries, including Turkey, under the Joint Strike Fighter program.
The United States removed Turkey from the program in 2019 after Ankara purchased Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, saying the Russian system could compromise the security of the F-35 aircraft.
Trump did not say whether he would support Turkey’s return to the program. Vice President JD Vance later said any sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey would require congressional approval.
“This is really a congressional thing, and ensuring that Turkey has complied with American law, so they can get the F-35,” Vance said.
Analysts say Turkey wants the engines for early versions of KAAN, its flagship stealth fighter project, as Ankara seeks to join the small group of countries capable of producing fifth-generation fighter aircraft, including the United States, China and Russia.
Netanyahu also said he remains a close ally of Trump despite recent tensions between them over the Iran war.
“We are the best of allies,” the Israeli leader said. “My relationship with the president is fine.”
