Media: Israel's Netanyahu lobbying US against F-35 sale to Türkiye

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressuring U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to block the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, citing concerns about Ankara's growing influence in Syria.

Three sources, including two Western officials, confirmed that Netanyahu raised this issue in phone conversations with Rubio in March and April, Caliber.Az reports, citing Middle East Eye.

One of the sources clarified that this occurred before Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Washington on March 25.

Officials stated that Netanyahu and his team view Rubio as a key ally in their attempt to prevent the transfer of the latest U.S. fighter jets to Türkiye. Rubio has taken a tough stance on Ankara and was one of the few members of the administration to publicly condemn the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19.

A report from the U.S. State Department on the meeting between Rubio and Fidan stated that they discussed "close cooperation to support a stable, united, peaceful Syria." According to the publication, they also held separate talks at the NATO summit in Brussels in April.

A senior Turkish official told Middle East Eye that they do not expect any change in the U.S. position regarding the sale of the F-35s and noted that Israel’s efforts would not affect the decision on transferring the jets.

Under U.S. law, Türkiye must abandon its possession of the Russian S-400 system in order to rejoin the F-35 program. In 2019, after Türkiye purchased the S-400, the U.S. removed Türkiye from the project and imposed sanctions the following year.

According to media reports, Ankara is considering the temporary deployment of the S-400 in Syria, which, may raise concerns in Israel.

​Letəs note that the United States' decision to sell F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye has been a subject of significant debate and policy shifts over the past decade. Türkiye, initially a partner in the F-35 program, faced exclusion in 2019 due to its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which raised concerns about potential security risks to the F-35's technology. ​

In early 2025, reports emerged suggesting that the U.S. Congress might reconsider its stance on the F-35 sale to Türkiye. A report from the U.S. Congressional Research Service indicated that Türkiye's return to the F-35 program could be possible if it abandoned the Russian S-400 system.

By Khagan Isayev