Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposed the US sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, arguing that the move poses a threat to Israel's military superiority. According to an analysis in Foreign Policy, Netanyahu is concerned that the sale would upset the balance of power in the Middle East.
Netanyahu is said to have conveyed these concerns to US President Donald Trump, who reportedly dismissed them and said he had convinced President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan not to act against Israel together with Iran.
Rising tensions
Israel's concerns about Turkey are shaped by accumulating disagreements between the two countries. The serious deterioration of relations after the Gaza War and rising anti-Israel rhetoric from Turkey form the backdrop to this tension.
Netanyahu argued that Ankara has taken a harder stance against Israeli activities in the region and that Turkish foreign policy has become increasingly hostile. Western countries have also criticized Turkey over maritime jurisdiction disputes with Greece and freedom violations such as the arrests of dissidents.
Past disputes within NATO, such as Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system and its long obstruction of Sweden's NATO membership, are also listed as factors causing tension among allies.
Pre-election politics
The analysis argues that Netanyahu's warnings are not independent of domestic political calculations ahead of the upcoming Israeli elections. The prime minister is said to be trying to exaggerate external threats to portray himself as the only leader who can protect Israel, aiming to consolidate the support of his right-wing voter base.
The Israeli government's decision to officially recognize the Armenian genocide, a step it had avoided for decades to preserve relations with Ankara, is also noteworthy.
Allegations of double standards
Author Azriel Bermant claims that Netanyahu applies double standards in his regional policy. While Netanyahu criticizes Erdoğan for suppressing dissidents and journalists, he is said to maintain close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces similar accusations.
It is pointed out that while Netanyahu criticizes Erdoğan's zeal to revive Ottoman influence, he himself uses rhetoric of reshaping the Middle East. Israel's control of Gaza, Lebanon, and parts of Syria, along with its coalition partners' demands for the annexation of Palestinian territories, are cited as examples in this context.
The analysis concludes that the escalating tension with Turkey serves Netanyahu's pre-election political goals. This allows the prime minister to reinforce his image as the sole defender of Israel's security in the face of growing external threats.
According to the assessment in Foreign Policy, the sale of F-35s to Turkey could create a significant shift in the regional balance of power. However, the real concern is that Netanyahu's repeated warnings for domestic political purposes are losing their impact among allies, and the Trump administration may have begun to approach these warnings with greater caution.
