Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday 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.
“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 by, I think, by America’s posture in the Middle East,” Netanyahu told Fox News morning show “Fox & Friends.”
US President Donald Trump, whom Netanyahu considers a close ally, is set to depart for Ankara later Monday to attend a NATO summit.
Last month Trump suggested he could take steps that would please Erdoğan when asked about Turkey’s efforts to secure F110 jet engines and regain access to the F-35 program.
“I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make him very happy,” Trump told reporters when asked about Erdoğan’s interest in the jets and whether he would be bringing a “big gift bag” with him to Ankara for the NATO summit.
The F-35, a stealth fighter jet made by Lockheed Martin, was developed by the United States with partner countries including Turkey under the Joint Strike Fighter program.
Washington removed Ankara from the program in 2019 after Turkey bought Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, saying the Russian system could endanger the security of the aircraft.
Trump did not say whether he would back Turkey’s return to the program, and Vice President JD Vance later said any sale of F-35s 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 a small group of countries capable of producing fifth-generation combat aircraft, including the United States, China and Russia.
Netanyahu also said he remained 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.”
© Agence France-Presse