Full Breakdown
Netanyahu Urges U.S. to Block Turkey’s Access to F-35 Fighter Jets Ahead of NATO Summit
7/7/2026, 4:04:48 AM
Netanyahu’s Appeal to the United States Over Turkey’s F-35 Prospects
On 6 July 2026 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that Turkey should not receive Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft or the F110 jet engines needed for its indigenous KAAN fighter. He argued that supplying the hardware would “upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also by America’s posture in the Middle East.” Netanyahu framed the request as essential to preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge and to maintaining regional stability.
Background: Turkey’s Removal from the F-35 Program and Regional Tensions
Turkey was expelled from the multinational F-35 development and acquisition program in 2019 after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air-defence system in 2017, a move Washington said could expose stealth-jet technology. Since then Ankara has pursued the F110 engine to power its KAAN stealth-fighter project and has signaled a desire to re-enter the F-35 program. Relations with Israel have deteriorated amid Turkish support for Hamas, criticism of Israel’s Gaza operations, and longstanding disputes with Greece over Cyprus, which Netanyahu repeatedly described as “half of Cyprus, a NATO country” despite Cyprus not being a NATO member.
Key Figures
- Benjamin Netanyahu – Prime Minister of Israel, primary advocate against the sale.
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan – President of Turkey, whose rhetoric Netanyahu cites as hostile.
- Donald Trump – U.S. President, scheduled to meet Erdogan at the NATO summit and previously indicated willingness to make “Erdogan very happy” with a possible engine sale.
- Mike Lawler (R-NY) & Brad Sherman (D-CA) – Congressional leaders who have warned the administration against the transfer.
- JD Vance – U.S. Vice President who said Washington is examining ways to sell the aircraft.
Data & Statistics
- Israel operates approximately three dozen to 45 F-35 jets, depending on the source.
- Turkey’s army is the second-largest in NATO after the United States.
- The prospective sale of F110 engines is valued at more than $700 million.
- Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 program has been in place since 2019.
Why It Matters
Israel’s defense doctrine relies on maintaining air-superiority; U.S. officials have long linked regional stability to that advantage. A Turkish acquisition of fifth-generation fighters could alter deterrence calculations, affect NATO cohesion, and influence U.S. arms-export policy toward a country that retains the Russian S-400 system.
Official Statements & Responses
Netanyahu repeatedly emphasized that “Turkey is a great country, but it is governed by a man who calls openly for the annihilation of Israel.” He added that “for a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood… I don’t think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets.”
President Trump later told reporters he would “probably do something that will make him very happy,” referring to Erdogan’s request for engines.
U.S. Vice President Vance confirmed that the administration is reviewing possible sales, while several members of Congress have formally opposed any re-entry of Turkey into the program.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, cited by Israeli officials, described Israel as “the world’s problem” and claimed the Jewish state “has no place in humanity.”
Criticism & Opposition
Erdogan warned that Israel’s attempts to “dynamite” the U.S.–Iran agreement would not be tolerated. Lawmakers Lawler and Sherman sent a bipartisan letter to Trump highlighting Turkey’s “constant and growing anti-Israel rhetoric” and its continued possession of the S-400 system as reasons to block the sale.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Cyprus NATO status: Netanyahu referred to Cyprus as a NATO member, which is inaccurate.
- Israeli F-35 inventory: Sources differ on whether Israel fields three dozen or 45 aircraft.
- Final U.S. decision: Sale of engines requires congressional approval; the timeline remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don’t think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets.” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
- “Turkey is a great country, but it’s governed by a man who calls openly for the annihilation of Israel.” — Benjamin Netanyahu
- “For a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood, an extreme movement that hates America and chants death to America from that side of the spectrum, I don’t think that they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets because that will upset power balance in the Middle East which is ultimately guaranteed by Israel air superiority and by America’s posture in the Middle East,” — Benjamin Netanyahu
- “America has been a tremendous force for good, and without America, there won’t be any democracy in the world, and there won’t be any freedom in the world,” — Benjamin Netanyahu
- “We are closely following the Israeli administration’s attempts to dynamite the deal,” — Recep Tayyip Erdogan
What’s Next
The NATO summit in Ankara (7-8 July 2026) will host a meeting between Trump and Erdogan, during which the possibility of approving F110 engines and a limited F-35 re-entry will be discussed. Congressional hearings on the sale are slated for the coming weeks, and Israeli officials have indicated they will continue lobbying Washington to maintain the status quo.
