Netanyahu tells Trump: Don't give Turkey F-35 fighter jets! Otherwise it will break the balance of power in the Middle East; Erdogan: Israel is "addicted to war"

According to a report from Reference News, on July 7, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in an interview with U.S. media, urged Trump not to provide Turkey with F-35 fighter jets or engines, saying that “this will break the balance of power in the Middle East.”

According to Xinhua News Agency, on the 4th, Turkish President Erdogan publicly condemned Israel’s government’s wartime actions and called on the international community to firmly resist and not allow it to drag the world into smoke and a sea of blood.

Erdogan said: “Under no circumstances should we give the current Israeli government, addicted to aggression, any opportunity; nor should we allow it to drown our region in the stench of gunpowder and fresh blood.”

The U.S. government has reportedly recently formally notified Congress that it plans to sell dozens of fighter jet engines to Turkey. The total value of this arms sale exceeds $700 million.

According to Reuters, the engines produced by U.S. company General Electric will power Turkey’s first domestically made fighter jet, “Khan.”

The “Khan” fighter jet was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries and successfully completed its maiden flight on February 21, 2024. Turkey calls it a fifth-generation fighter with air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities, and says it can replace the F-16 fighter jets currently in service in the air force.

Turkey and the United States are both NATO member countries, but in recent years, there have been ongoing disagreements between the two regarding defense procurement. According to reports, this arms sale is seen as an important gesture by the U.S. to show goodwill to the Turkish side.

In 2017, Turkey signed a contract with Russia to purchase the S-400 air defense missile system, which drew strong opposition from the United States and NATO. After Russia began delivering the S-400 in July 2019, the United States banned Turkey from participating in the production and purchase of F-35 fighter jets and sanctioned senior officials of Turkey’s defense industry sector. The U.S. says that the Russian-made S-400 system is not compatible with NATO air defense systems and may help Russia track F-35 fighter jets.

Because NATO European allies are unwilling to support the U.S. military action against Iran, U.S. President Trump has recently repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction. The NATO summit is scheduled to be held in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, from July 7 to 8. Trump recently said that out of respect for the host, Turkish President Erdogan, he will attend the summit.

When asked on June 24 about the sale of fighter jet engines, the F-35 program, and summit plans, Trump said, “I might do something that will make them very happy.”

Trump regards Erdogan as a key ally. Erdogan visited the White House in September 2025 and met with Trump. At that time, Trump urged Turkey to stop purchasing Russian oil, while hinting that restrictions on Turkey’s purchase of F-35 fighter jets might be lifted.

Source: Daily Economic News

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