Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he opposes the transfer of F-35 fighter jets and fighter jet engines to Türkiye.
Speaking via video link to Fox News, Netanyahu argued that providing Türkiye with F-35 aircraft or fighter jet engines would alter the balance of power in the Middle East.
“I do not believe that such a regime should be given F-35 fighter jets or engines for fighter aircraft. Because this would disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East. That balance is maintained by Israel’s air superiority and America’s posture in the region,” Netanyahu said.
The remarks came ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, which U.S. President Donald Trump is also expected to attend, at a time when defense industry contacts between Türkiye and the United States have once again come to the agenda.
Türkiye was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after procuring the S-400 air defense system from Russia.
