Israel Fears Trump May Approve F-35 Sales to Turkey at Upcoming NATO Summit

As the NATO annual summit approaches on July 7-8 in Ankara, Israel and Greece express deep concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump might announce approval for selling advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. This development could erode the operational air superiority of both countries. Trump hinted at this possibility by stating, "I’m probably going to do something that will make them very happy," referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey was officially removed from the F-35 development program after purchasing advanced Russian anti-aircraft missile systems in 2009. However, ongoing negotiations suggest a potential compromise where Turkey might sell its Russian S-400 missile system to South Korea, paving the way for its return to the F-35 program. Israeli officials strongly oppose transferring any equipment related to the F-35 program, such as Israeli-made pilot helmet displays, to Turkey under any future agreement.

This report was analyzed by Euractiv, which covers European affairs, highlighting the strategic tensions surrounding the summit. Meanwhile, other global security updates include the partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with oil exports gradually returning to pre-conflict levels following a ceasefire between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Additionally, the European Commission announced a 3.4 million euro investment in a new pan-European research network to combat rising antisemitism, especially following the escalation of conflict in Gaza since October 2023.