Ahead of Trump’s trip to Turkey, Netanyahu says Ankara shouldn’t get F-35 jets

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the United States on Monday not to sell advanced weaponry, particularly F-35 jets, to Turkey as U.S. President Donald Trump prepared to visit the country for a NATO summit. Netanyahu characterized Turkey as "a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood, an extreme movement that hates America and chants ‘Death to America.’"

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a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood, an extreme movement that hates America and chants ‘Death to America.’

"I don’t think they should be given F-35s or engines for their fighter jets," Netanyahu insisted in an interview with Fox News. Last month, Trump had indicated a willingness to sell Turkey F110 fighter jet engines and potentially readmit the country to the F-35 program. Turkey requires these engines for its KAAN fifth-generation fighter jets, development of which began after its exclusion from the F-35 program in 2019.

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I don’t think they should be given F-35s or engines for their fighter jets.

Netanyahu argued that such a sale would "upset the balance of power in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israel’s air superiority and also America’s posture in the Middle East." He acknowledged Turkey as "a great country" but expressed concern over its leadership under Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he accused of threatening Israel's destruction and occupying half of Cyprus.

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upset the balance of power in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israel’s air superiority and also America’s posture in the Middle East.

The Trump administration had formally notified Congress of its intent to sell over $700 million worth of jet engines to Turkey, according to Reuters. Trump had previously suggested he would do "something that is going to make him [Erdogan] very happy." Vice President JD Vance indicated that certain certifications were required under U.S. law for the F-35 sale, describing it as a congressional matter. The potential sale is seen as a significant gesture to Ankara ahead of the NATO summit, with Greece also opposing the move. Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 following its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.

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I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make him [Erdogan] very happy.