Israel and Greece Alarmed as Trump Eyes F-35 Deal for Turkey
Both Israel and Greece are pushing back hard against what could be the most consequential arms decision in the eastern Mediterranean in years. Trump hinted last week that he plans to do something that will make Turkey "very happy" at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8, and regional allies are now scrambling to figure out what that means for the F-35 programme.
Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 programme in 2019 after buying Russia's S-400 air defence system. Washington's concern was that the S-400 could collect radar data on the F-35 and compromise the aircraft's technology. Now, according to Reuters, the Trump administration has already notified Congress of plans to sell US engines worth 613 million euros for KAAN, Turkey's homegrown fifth-generation fighter jet.
"Turkey's behaviour in the region was hostile enough on its own to justify Washington refusing Ankara's request" — Israel's Ambassador to Greece Noam Katz
The bigger fear in Jerusalem and Athens is whether Washington goes further and lets Turkey back into the F-35 programme altogether. Israel is already flying a modified version of the F-35 in combat over Lebanon, Syria and Iran. Greece has ordered the aircraft but not yet received it. Both governments argue that handing F-35s to Ankara would gut their military edge and tilt the regional balance.
Israel's ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, told Euractiv in May that Turkey's behaviour in the region was hostile enough on its own to justify Washington refusing Ankara's request. Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel takes Erdogan's threats seriously and will raise the issue directly with the United States.
On the Greek side, former PM Alexis Tsipras met with US Ambassador to Athens Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle on Monday, urging Washington to block F-35 sales to Turkey and press Ankara to respect international law before the summit.
A regional intelligence officer familiar with the matter told Euractiv the sale is not a done deal. One scenario circulating is that Turkey sells its S-400 to a third country, with South Korea mentioned as a possible destination, as a condition for any F-35 breakthrough.
There is also an Israeli manufacturing angle complicating the picture. Israeli defence contractor Elbit developed the helmet-mounted display system used in the F-35, and Israeli firms supply other components. Jerusalem has made clear it would not welcome those parts ending up inside a Turkish fighter jet.
