Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that any U.S. decision to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey would “undermine the balance of power” in the Middle East.
Netanyahu’s remarks came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump, during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said Washington would consider the possibility of selling the advanced fighter aircraft to Ankara.
The United States previously removed Turkey from the F-35 program after Ankara purchased a Russian air defense system.
In an interview with the U.S. news network CNN, Netanyahu said that any such deal “would undermine the balance of power in the Middle East because Turkey, in my opinion, has aggressive ambitions.”
He added that granting Turkey such military capabilities “would inevitably lead to aggression.”
Turkey has been seeking to end its exclusion from the F-35 program and to have U.S. sanctions lifted, arguing that the restrictions have hindered the development of its defense industry.
Netanyahu has previously voiced opposition to the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. However, Erdoğan is relying on his strong relationship with Trump to secure the delivery of five F-35 aircraft that Ankara has already paid for.
AFP
