Trump Considers Restoring Turkey’s Access to F-35 Fighter Jets in Major Defense Shift

Donald Trump is weighing whether to approve the sale of U.S.-built F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, a move drawing sharp resistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who says it would “destroy” regional stability. Speaking Tuesday, Netanyahu argued that giving Turkey access to the aircraft would upset the balance of power in the Middle East, saying Ankara has “aggressive aspirations.” He pointed to Turkish rhetoric about reviving Ottoman-era influence, noting that Israel, Syria, Jordan and other countries were once ruled by the empire. “This is not a force for peace and stability,” Netanyahu told CNN, warning that handing such military capability to what he called a radical regime would invite further aggression. Trump has been in Turkey this week for a NATO summit, where member states are discussing the alliance’s security priorities. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reportedly pressing Trump to clear U.S. arms sales to Ankara, including the F-35 stealth fighter, one of the most advanced aircraft in the American arsenal.

The U.S. president has not yet made a final decision, in part because of a 2018 law that restricts Turkey from possessing both Russia’s S-400 air defense system and the American-made F-35. Members of Congress raised concerns that the Russian system could be used to detect, monitor and gather intelligence on the stealth jet’s capabilities. U.S. officials have long warned that allowing Turkey to operate both platforms could threaten the F-35’s technological advantage. Even so, Trump has indicated the proposal remains under consideration, despite Netanyahu’s public objections.

“Well, it’s a decision we’re going to make,” Trump told reporters Tuesday when asked about the potential F-35 agreement. “We have a very good relationship.” Sitting beside Erdogan, Trump suggested there was support for the idea, adding that many people were asking, “why wouldn’t we do that?” He went on to praise Ankara’s ties with Washington, saying the United States has “a better relationship with Turkey” and that Turkey has, in some respects, been “much more loyal” than other nations expected to be close partners.

“So, yeah, something certainly we would consider,” Trump said. Netanyahu, meanwhile, appears to be making a coordinated push through U.S. media to discourage the sale. In his CNN appearance, he described Ankara as “a regime that’s infected with the Muslim Brotherhood, which hates the United States.” The Israeli leader also accused Erdogan of threatening “to destroy my country, the one and only Jewish state.” During a Monday interview on “Fox & Friends,” Netanyahu urged Washington not to provide Turkey with F-35s, alleging that Erdogan “calls openly for the annihilation of Israel.”