Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the United States not to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey [1, 2].
The request comes as the U.S. prepares for a NATO summit in Turkey this week [3]. The move highlights growing tensions between Israel and Turkey, as well as the complex security dynamics involving Russian military hardware and NATO alliances.
Netanyahu said Turkey's acquisition of Russian air-defence systems poses a risk to the regional power balance [2, 4]. He also cited public calls from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the annihilation of Israel as a primary reason for the request [2, 4].
During the exchange, Netanyahu said Turkey was not exactly a model ally [3]. The warnings were delivered as President Trump prepared for his travel to the summit [1, 3].
President Trump responded to the warning by asking why the U.S. would not sell the jets [4]. This response suggests a potential disconnect between Israeli security concerns and the current U.S. administration's approach to arms sales and diplomacy with Ankara.
The F-35 program has long been a point of contention between the U.S. and Turkey due to Ankara's purchase of the S-400 missile system from Russia. This purchase previously led to Turkey's removal from the program, as U.S. officials said the Russian systems could compromise the stealth capabilities of the American aircraft.
“Netanyahu said Turkey was "not exactly a model ally."”
This diplomatic friction underscores the precarious balance the U.S. must maintain between its NATO obligations to Turkey and its strategic security partnership with Israel. By linking arms sales to Erdogan's rhetoric and Russia's military influence, Israel is attempting to leverage U.S. security concerns to limit Turkey's aerial capabilities in the Mediterranean region.
