Israel Urges Washington to Halt F-35 and F110 Transfers to Turkey Amid Regional Stability Concerns

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly called upon the United States administration to cease the transfer of advanced defense systems, including F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and F110 turbofan engines, to Turkey. The appeal was made as then-President Donald Trump was en route to Turkey for a NATO Summit, underscoring the high-level diplomatic context of the request.

Speaking to Fox News, Prime Minister Netanyahu explicitly voiced his opposition to providing Turkey with these critical military assets. His stance emerges despite earlier indications from the Trump administration of its intent to move forward with the sale of F110 jet engines, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, even in the face of objections from the U.S. Congress. These General Electric F110 engines are designated to power the initial production blocks of Turkey’s domestically developed KAAN fighter jet.

Haluk Görgün, President of Turkey’s Defense Industries, recently commented on the KAAN program’s progress, stating that both flight and ground tests for the indigenous fighter are scheduled to commence within the current year. Görgün emphasized the comprehensive nature of these evaluations, affirming that “tests are not just about flight; there are also ground tests. Both in the air and on the ground, tests will continue at full speed.”

Euronews reported that Netanyahu predicated his opposition on the assertion that such military transfers would “disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East.” He claimed that the region’s delicate equilibrium is maintained through “Israel’s air superiority and the US military presence in the Middle East.” Furthermore, the Israeli Prime Minister accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of previously threatening Israel’s destruction, while acknowledging Turkey as a “large country.”

Beyond Israel, Greece has also positioned itself against the sale of F-35 jets to Turkey. Recent reports from Reuters indicated that the Trump administration had formally notified Congress of its intention to proceed with F110 engine sales exceeding $700 million. When questioned about potential F110 engine and F-35 sales, President Trump had previously stated, “I will do something that will make Erdoğan very happy.”

Regarding the preconditions for F-35 sales, then-U.S. Vice President JD Vance highlighted the necessity of stringent certification processes to ensure compliance with American laws, clarifying that the ultimate decision largely rests with Congress. President Trump, however, had expressed confidence in resolving the matter.

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