Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed Turkey's return to the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program. His comments came just before President Donald Trump is set to attend a NATO summit in Ankara, reflecting a strong stance against Turkey.
In a Fox News interview on July 6, Netanyahu stated, "We should not provide Turkey with F-35s or fighter jet engines." He criticized the Turkish government as a regime influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, arguing that supplying advanced fighter jets could disrupt the military balance in the Middle East.
Turkey, a NATO member, has been at odds with the U.S. since it acquired Russian S-400 missile defense systems in 2019. The U.S. believes the S-400 could be used to gather intelligence on the F-35's stealth capabilities, leading to Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 joint development program.
The issue has resurfaced as the Trump administration considers the possibility of Turkey rejoining the F-35 program. Turkey is a key military power within NATO and the host of the upcoming summit.
Israel fears that Turkey's acquisition of the F-35 could weaken its air superiority. Currently, Israel is the only country operating the fifth-generation stealth fighter in the Middle East. Netanyahu emphasized, "The balance in the Middle East is guaranteed by Israel's air superiority and the strategic posture of the United States."
Netanyahu also directly targeted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stating, "President Erdoğan has continued to make hostile remarks towards Israel and is clashing with NATO allies over issues related to Cyprus and Greece."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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