Why Is The US F-35 Jet Sale To Turkey A Bigger Fear For Israel After Iran?

As the tensions between the United States and Iran rise, there is a new regional power which is beginning to develop. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu believes Turkey is trying to fill the space that is left by Iran and he has openly stood against the possible US plan to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.

Well, Netanyahu believes that giving Turkey such a powerful aircraft can change the balance of power in the middle east and create new security risks for Israel.

Why Israel Sees Turkey as a New Challenge

For years Iran was seen as Israel's biggest rival as it supported armed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. However, recently military setbacks and regional influence have reduced Iran's strength. Perhaps this is where the loophole is. The weakening of Iran has created an opportunity for another country to become more powerful.

Netanyahu believes that Turkey under the Presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is on the verge of expanding its influence across the Middle East. One must know that Turkey already has a strong presence in Syria with its investment of defence industry and has shown a bigger role in Gaza.

Israeli officials fear that Turkey is in the way to build stronger ties with Sunni groups across the region replacing Iran.

Netanyahu Opposes US Plan to Sell F-35 Jets

It is already known that F-35 is one of the world's advanced fighter aircraft and if Turkey gets these jets it could reduce Israel's military advantage in the region.

Speaking in interviews with American media, Netanyahu said Turkey's current leadership has shown aggressive intentions and should not receive such advanced military technology. He argued that Israel's air superiority has been a key factor in maintaining regional stability and that the sale could upset that balance.

Trump's Position on Turkey

Where on one side Israel is not in the favour of US selling its F-35 aircraft to Turkey., US President Donald Trump has been vocal about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on several occasions.

During the recent NATO summit, Trump described Erdogan as an "extraordinary leader." He also said no final decision had been made on the possible sale of F-35 aircraft to Turkey.

Trump has maintained that he shares a good relationship with Erdogan and even claimed he helped prevent Turkey from joining the recent conflict involving Iran.

Although the US administration has not officially approved the sale, Netanyahu decided to publicly campaign against it, hoping to influence American lawmakers and public opinion before any final decision is taken.

Why Other Countries Also Have Concerns

Well, Israel is not the only country worried about Turkey being powerful, but Greece, Armenia are also in the list. One must know that Greece has a long history of accusations of violating airspace and challenging maritime boundaries. Armenia also has strained relations with Turkey because of the long-standing dispute over the Armenian Genocide, which Turkey continues to reject.

Cyprus remains divided after Turkey occupied the northern part of the island decades ago, and tensions between the two countries continue.

Because of these disputes, several groups in the United States, including Greek-American and Armenian-American organisations, have traditionally opposed strengthening Turkey's military capabilities.

Congress May Play an Important Role

Despite other countries against the trade of the F-35 with Turkey, Congress also is a major obstacle. It must be known that the US has previously removed Turkey from the F-35 programme after Ankara purchased the Russian S-400 missile defence system, which raised security concerns within NATO.

Several lawmakers have already introduced proposals opposing military sales to Turkey, arguing that advanced weapons should not be provided until these concerns are resolved.

A New Strategic Rivalry May Be Emerging

Israel believe that the Middle East is entering a new phase after Iran's decline. It is not just focusing on Iran but is also closely monitoring Turkey's military strength.
Israeli officials believe that stopping the possible F-35 sale is only one part of a much larger strategic challenge. As Turkey expands its influence across the Middle East, Israel is preparing for what it sees as a long-term competition for regional leadership.