F-35 Sales Blockage Plea
Netanyahu Presses Trump to Block F-35 Sales to Turkey, Citing Regional Instability
Key Points
Turkey is pursuing F110 engines to bolster its KAAN stealth fighter project, with discussions framed around joining the ranks of fifth‑generation aircraft producers, ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara.
Netanyahu directly pressed President Trump in a Friday phone call not to sell advanced platforms to Turkey, highlighting concerns tied to Erdogan’s anti-Israel rhetoric and Turkey’s military ambitions.
Netanyahu characterized Erdogan’s regime in stark terms, describing it as ‘infected by the Muslim Brotherhood’ and citing aggressive statements about Israel and Jerusalem (including rhetoric that Israel faces annihilation threats).
There is an expectation that Trump will raise Turkey’s bid to rejoin the F-35 program at the Ankara NATO summit, with a senior US official indicating Trump may also press Erdogan to tone down anti-Israel rhetoric.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged President Donald Trump not to sell F-35 fighter jets or their engines to Turkey, warning that such a deal would "upset the power balance" in the Middle East, according to New York Post. The appeal came in a direct phone call on Friday, just ahead of Trump's planned NATO summit in Ankara.
Netanyahu went further than a policy disagreement. He described Turkey's government as "infected by the Muslim Brotherhood" and a regime that "chants Death to America," according to RealClearPolitics. The remarks signal deep Israeli alarm over Washington potentially rewarding Ankara with cutting-edge military hardware.
Why Turkey Wants F-35s and Engines Now
Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 program in 2019. Washington removed Ankara after it bought Russia's S-400 missile defense system, which the U.S. said could expose F-35 secrets. Now Turkey is building its own stealth jet, called the KAAN, and needs powerful engines to make it work, according to Times of Israel.
Turkey is specifically seeking F110 engines — the same type that power some U.S. fighter jets. Getting those engines would give the KAAN program a major boost. Trump is expected to discuss Turkey's request to rejoin the F-35 program when he meets President Erdogan at the Ankara NATO summit, according to Geo.tv.
Netanyahu's Warning: Arming Turkey Threatens Israel's Edge
Israel's military advantage in the region rests partly on being the only U.S. ally flying F-35s in the Middle East. Netanyahu argued that selling the jets or engines to Turkey would erode that edge and weaken America's own position in the region, according to New York Post. He tied the warning directly to Turkey's growing military ambitions.
Netanyahu also cited Erdogan's sharp rhetoric toward Israel. Turkish officials have made aggressive statements about Jerusalem and Israel's survival. Netanyahu told Trump the combination of hostile words and advanced weapons in Turkish hands would destabilize the region, according to Newsy Today.
Trump's Ankara Summit Puts U.S. in a Difficult Spot
Trump is walking into a tricky situation. Turkey is a NATO ally and has long pushed to get back into the F-35 program. A senior U.S. official said Trump may press Erdogan to tone down his anti-Israel rhetoric during the summit, according to Times of Israel. But it is unclear if that will be enough to satisfy Netanyahu.
Trump has shown openness to Turkey's requests in the past. That has alarmed Israel, which sees any sale of fifth-generation jets or engines to Ankara as a direct threat. Netanyahu reaffirmed the U.S.-Israel alliance in the call but made clear that arming Turkey would cross a red line, according to RealClearPolitics.
Erdogan's Rhetoric Fuels Israel's Fears
Netanyahu's alarm is not just about hardware. He pointed to specific statements from Erdogan about Israel facing annihilation and threats to Jerusalem. Those words, combined with Turkey's push for stealth aircraft, have made Israeli officials deeply uneasy, according to Geo.tv.
The dispute puts three major players — the U.S., Israel, and Turkey — in direct tension. Washington must decide whether to strengthen a NATO ally or protect a key Middle East partner. That choice, and what Trump says in Ankara, could reshape military power across the region for years to come.
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