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Netanyahu Urges Trump to Block Turkey's F-35 Bid, Warning of Middle East Power Shift

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on President Donald Trump Monday to deny Turkey access to U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, arguing that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's hostility toward Israel, NATO allies, and the United States makes Ankara an unacceptable recipient of advanced military technology. The remarks came ahead of Trump's scheduled attendance at this week's NATO summit in Ankara and follow signals from the Trump administration that it may be open to revisiting Turkey's long-suspended place in the F-35 program.

By Corinne Ashford2 min read
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Key takeaways

  • Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday urged President Trump to deny Turkey access to U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, warning it would shift the Middle East power balance.
  • Netanyahu cited President Erdoğan's alleged calls for Israel's destruction, Turkey's support for Hamas, and Ankara's threats against fellow NATO member Greece as disqualifying factors.
  • Turkey was removed from the F-35 program after buying the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, which raised interoperability concerns among NATO partners.
  • Netanyahu folded in a warning about Iran, arguing Tehran should not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons or their delivery systems, citing 'Death to Trump' and 'Death to America' chants.
  • The appeal came ahead of Trump's scheduled attendance at this week's NATO summit in Ankara, amid signals the administration may revisit Turkey's suspended F-35 status.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on President Donald Trump Monday to deny Turkey access to U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, arguing that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's hostility toward Israel, NATO allies, and the United States makes Ankara an unacceptable recipient of advanced military technology. The remarks came ahead of Trump's scheduled attendance at this week's NATO summit in Ankara and follow signals from the Trump administration that it may be open to revisiting Turkey's long-suspended place in the F-35 program.

The Case Against Reentry

Netanyahu framed Turkey's potential reentry into the F-35 program as a direct threat to regional stability, arguing that providing Erdoğan's government with the aircraft would upset the power balance in the Middle East. He cited what he described as Erdoğan's open calls for Israel's destruction, Turkey's support for Hamas, and Ankara's threats against fellow NATO member Greece as disqualifying factors.

"He's threatening Greece, another NATO country, and he talks openly about conquering Jerusalem," Netanyahu said, attributing similar sentiments to senior Turkish officials including the country's foreign and interior ministers.

Turkey was removed from the F-35 program after it acquired the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, a purchase that raised interoperability concerns among NATO partners. The Trump administration's willingness to reexamine that exclusion has drawn pushback from Israel, which views its air superiority as central to regional security.

Iran Warning Folded Into the Appeal

Netanyahu broadened his appeal to include a warning about Iran, arguing that the country's leadership remains hostile to the United States despite recent military setbacks. He pointed to chants of "Death to Trump" and "Death to America" at the funeral of senior commanders killed in strikes as evidence that Tehran should not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons or the delivery systems for them.

The Israeli leader cast the broader contest in stark terms, describing it as a conflict between freedom and what he called fanaticism.

Summit Backdrop Raises Stakes

Trump's planned attendance at the NATO summit in Ankara gives the dispute immediate diplomatic weight. A U.S. envoy to Turkey has already faced domestic backlash over remarks promoting what the administration has described as a "peace through strength" policy toward Ankara, underscoring the internal tensions the F-35 question has surfaced within the administration.

Netanyahu's intervention places Trump between two significant regional partners at a moment when both the Israeli-Arab conflict and Turkey's alignment within NATO remain live geopolitical fault lines.

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Frequently asked

Why does Netanyahu want Turkey blocked from the F-35 program?

He argues Erdoğan's hostility toward Israel, NATO allies, and the United States makes Turkey an unacceptable recipient of advanced military technology and that the jets would upset the Middle East power balance.

Why was Turkey originally removed from the F-35 program?

Turkey was removed after it acquired the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, a purchase that raised interoperability concerns among NATO partners.

What is the significance of the NATO summit in this dispute?

Trump's planned attendance at the NATO summit in Ankara gives the F-35 dispute immediate diplomatic weight and places him between two significant regional partners, Israel and Turkey.

How does Iran factor into Netanyahu's appeal?

Netanyahu broadened his appeal to warn that Iran remains hostile to the U.S., citing 'Death to Trump' and 'Death to America' chants at commanders' funerals, and argued Tehran must not obtain nuclear weapons or delivery systems.