Netanyahu warns Trump against fighter jet deal with Turkey, citing Middle East power balance

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider a planned arms deal that would supply Turkey with advanced fighter jet engines. Netanyahu expressed strong concerns that providing such technology to Turkey would destabilize the regional power balance in the Middle East, a balance he asserted is currently upheld by Israel and the U.S. military.

Netanyahu's warning comes as Trump reportedly considers offering approximately 40 F110 fighter jet engines to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The meeting between the two leaders is expected to occur on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. These engines are intended for Turkey's indigenous KAAN stealth fighter jets, a program designed to replace the Turkish Air Force's aging F16 fleet and position Turkey among nations capable of producing fifth-generation combat aircraft, like the U.S., China, and Russia.

The proposed engine deal is estimated to be worth over $700 million. However, the transaction faces criticism from within the U.S. Congress. Gregory Meeks, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized Trump for bypassing Congress, stating that the legislative body was merely informed of the decision. This move by the Trump administration has drawn scrutiny, particularly given past U.S. sanctions against Turkey.

Turkey's pursuit of advanced military hardware has been complicated by U.S. sanctions imposed in late 2020, following Ankara's acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. For Congress to lift these sanctions, Turkey would need to divest itself of the S-400 system. However, selling the system to a third country requires Moscow's approval, and returning it to Russia is not an option. Experts like Mustafa Aydin, an international relations expert, note that reversing congressional decisions on such matters will not be straightforward.

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This would disrupt the power balance in the Middle East.