Trump courts Erdogan with F-35 fighter jet pathway as Turkey-Israel tensions soar

Donald Trump is set to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a NATO summit in Ankara as tensions between Turkey and Israel reach new heights. The US president, described as close allies with the Turkish leader, is reportedly considering a significant diplomatic gesture: potentially opening the door for Turkey to resume purchasing American F-35 fighter jets, a programme from which Ankara was excluded in 2019 following its acquisition of Russian air defence systems. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been working to counter Turkish influence in the Middle East, whilst Turkish Foreign Minister has escalated rhetoric, describing Israel as “a problem for the entire international community”. According to two sources speaking to the Associated Press, the US State Department has already moved forward with approving the sale of F110 jet engines to Turkey, a move that could signal broader American willingness to restore defence ties with Ankara. The potential reinstatement of F-35 access represents a significant warming of US-Turkish relations and could reshape the regional balance of power at a moment when Israeli-Turkish relations have deteriorated considerably over their respective Middle East policies and military operations.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.