The Turkish Foreign Ministry has formally dismissed recent remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the potential U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara, labeling the claims as a coordinated “disinformation campaign.” Ahead of a high-stakes NATO summit, the ministry issued a scathing rebuke, characterizing Netanyahu’s assertions that the sale would disrupt regional power balances as “baseless allegations.” Turkish officials argue that these claims are a deliberate attempt by the Israeli leadership to distort international discourse and divert global attention away from their mounting domestic and political crises.
The diplomatic friction arises as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan prepares to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit. Speculation has reached a fever pitch regarding a potential breakthrough in defense cooperation between Washington and Ankara. Reports suggest that President Trump is prepared to signal his support for restoring Türkiye’s access to the multinational F-35 program, a significant reversal from the previous administration’s stance. Trump has recently hinted at positive developments regarding Türkiye’s pursuit of advanced military technology, signaling a strengthening of ties between the two NATO allies under his current term.
At the core of Türkiye’s strategic ambition is the development of its indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Kaan. Ankara is actively seeking to acquire F110 jet engines to bolster this project, aiming to solidify its status as a premium producer of advanced combat aircraft alongside global powers like the United States, China, and Russia. Analysts suggest that securing this technology through a renewed agreement with Washington would be a major vindication for the Turkish defense industry, which has faced significant obstacles in the wake of the 2019 diplomatic fallout over the S-400 Russian air defense system.
The 2019 suspension of Türkiye from the F-35 program followed Washington’s concerns that the Russian-made S-400 system was incompatible with NATO security protocols and posed a surveillance risk to the F-35 fleet. Ankara has consistently challenged this narrative, arguing that the integration of its air defense systems does not jeopardize NATO assets and offering to establish a joint technical commission to resolve any lingering safety concerns. Throughout the years of exclusion, the Turkish government has maintained that its expulsion violated the rules of the international consortium and that restoring Türkiye to the program would provide a significant qualitative boost to the collective security of the Western alliance.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry did not limit its response to the technical and military aspects of the F-35 debate but framed Israel’s opposition within a broader geopolitical context. Officials in Ankara asserted that Netanyahu’s rhetoric is a strategic effort to “conceal” the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel’s ongoing policies of occupation and annexation. By framing the Israeli government’s regional actions as inherently destabilizing, Turkey has positioned itself as a vocal critic of the current status quo in the Middle East, challenging Israel’s credibility as a regional security arbiter.
Ultimately, the dispute highlights the widening rift between Ankara and Tel Aviv, even as Erdoğan seeks to restore his country’s standing within the U.S.-led global defense architecture. As the NATO summit commences, the focus remains on whether the United States will prioritize its historical alliance with Türkiye over the objections of its regional partners. In its closing statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterated a call for regional peace and prosperity, urging Israel to abandon its current policies in favor of constructive and peaceful engagement to ensure broader stability in the region.