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US President Donald Trump did not announce the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey during his visit to Ankara for the NATO summit, but his comments alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled a shift in Washington's stance. Trump explained why, in his view, opposition to the deal is no longer self-evident, according to reporting by the Jerusalem Post. "This is a decision we are going to make," Trump said, adding that the US would consider the move because its relations with Turkey are better than with other countries Washington thought would be more loyal. Erdogan quickly added that Turkey had already been promised five planes and that Trump "always keeps his commitments."

The comments have exposed a friction between the US and Israel over the potential sale, with Israeli officials expressing concerns about the strategic implications.

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post's coverage captured both the US perspective and the Israeli reaction. In one report, Anna Barsky wrote that Trump does not see Erdogan the way Israel does, framing Turkey as a NATO power with a strong military that could have chosen "a different path" regarding Israel and Iran but chose not to. Trump praised Ankara for not joining fighting "on the other side" and hinted it may have refrained because of him.

In Israel, the reading is entirely different, according to the same report. Ankara hosts Hamas, is intensifying its diplomatic confrontation with Israel, has considered attacking Israel alongside Iran, clashes with Greece and Cyprus, and is trying to expand its influence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Another Jerusalem Post piece, by Yonah Jeremy Bob, focused on specific Israeli defense concerns. The report said that if Trump ultimately sells F-35s to Turkey, Israeli defense officials believe Ankara's top minds could work around American limits placed on the aircraft. When the UAE and Saudis dropped their interest in purchasing the F-35, part of the reason was US-imposed limits, but Israel worries Turkey's military technology capacities and experience with aircraft could allow it to overcome those limits.

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported on the potential deal through the lens of US-Turkey relations, citing a Brussels-based news website. TASS noted that the US may revisit selling F-35s if Ankara agrees to transfer its S-400 systems to a third country, with South Korea mentioned as a possible destination.

Key Claims

  • The US may reconsider selling F-35s to Turkey if Ankara transfers its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to a third country, as reported by TASS citing Euractiv.
  • South Korea has been mentioned as a possible destination for the S-400 systems, according to the same TASS report.
  • The US removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 over Ankara's purchase of the S-400 systems, with concerns that operating both systems could enable Turkey to collect intelligence on the F-35's vulnerabilities, as noted by TASS.
  • Israel and Greece have consistently opposed any Turkish acquisition of the US-made aircraft, arguing it would erode their technological edge and alter the regional military balance, according to TASS.
  • Israeli defense officials worry Turkey could circumvent US legislation by placing the S-400 systems in storage and arguing they are not operational, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Turkey could send the S-400 systems to Syria, which would harm Israeli freedom of action in Syria, according to the Jerusalem Post's reporting on Israeli concerns.
  • Trump wants to bring Turkey back to the center of the Western system, signaling that the chapter of sanctions and removal from the F-35 program can be closed, as assessed by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Turkey's influence in Syria and its knowledge of Iran are seen as assets by Trump, according to the Jerusalem Post.
  • The US has never let Israel into the F-22 fighter program and has excluded Jerusalem from the latest sixth-generation F-47 fighter program, as noted by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Turkey is advancing the 'Blue Homeland' concept, which expands its claims and influence in the maritime domain and challenges some existing arrangements, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

United States (Trump administration): Trump views Turkey as a NATO ally with significant military capabilities that could be brought back into the Western fold. He sees Turkey's influence in Syria and knowledge of Iran as assets, and downplays the significance of its past S-400 purchase.

Israel: Israeli officials see Turkey as a regional rival that hosts Hamas, clashes with Greece and Cyprus, and is expanding its influence. They worry that Turkey could use the F-35s to undermine Israel's qualitative military edge, and that Ankara's technological expertise could circumvent US-imposed restrictions.

Turkey (Erdogan): Erdogan has said Turkey was promised five planes and that Trump "always keeps his commitments," presenting the potential sale as a fulfillment of US promises.

TASS/Euractiv: The reporting highlights the S-400 transfer as a key condition for any F-35 sale, and notes the long-standing opposition from Israel and Greece to such a deal.