{"id":1819,"date":"2026-07-08T15:51:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T15:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/07\/08\/netanyahu-warns-us-could-destroy-mideast-power-balance-as-trump-floats-f-35-jet-sale-to-turkey\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T15:51:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T15:51:21","slug":"netanyahu-warns-us-could-destroy-mideast-power-balance-as-trump-floats-f-35-jet-sale-to-turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=1819","title":{"rendered":"Netanyahu warns US could &#8216;destroy&#8217; Mideast power balance as Trump floats F-35 jet sale to Turkey"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--banner-top o-ad-container--with-shimmer o-ad-container--with-background\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-type=\"sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-status=\"disabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring__wrapper\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content t-content--article\" id=\"main-content\">\n<div class=\"t-content__above-sidebar\">\n<h1 class=\"t-content__title a-page-title\">Netanyahu warns US could &#8216;destroy&#8217; Mideast power balance as Trump floats F-35 jet sale to Turkey<\/h1>\n<div class=\"m-master-tag\">\n<div class=\"a-tag-section\">\n                                    Middle East\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"t-content__chapo\">\n                                        US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his willingness to sell Turkey F-35 fighter jets, a move which is likely to face strong resistance in Congress and which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would &#8220;destroy&#8221; the balance of power in the Middle East.                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__with-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"t-content__beside-sidebar\" data-article-content>\n<div class=\"t-content__metadata\">\n<div class=\"t-content__dates\">\n<p class=\"m-pub-dates\"><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Issued on: <time datetime=\"2026-07-08T09:08:10+00:00\">08\/07\/2026 &#8211; 11:08<\/time><\/span><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Modified: <time datetime=\"2026-07-08T09:32:39+00:00\">08\/07\/2026 &#8211; 11:32<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-reading-time\">\n    <span class=\"a-reading-time__icon\" title=\"Reading time\"><\/p>\n<p>    <\/span><br \/>\n    3 min    <span class=\"u-sr-only\">Reading time<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-share-button\" data-root-share>\n<p>                            <span class=\"a-master-button__label\">Share<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__authors\">\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                By:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author\">\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/france-24\/\" title=\"FRANCE 24\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                FRANCE 24<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__main-media\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/827a8f82-7aa6-11f1-a6c7-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/2026-07-07T144705Z-1313766941-RC209MA38SS9-RTRMADP-3-NATO-SUMMIT-TRUMP.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/827a8f82-7aa6-11f1-a6c7-005056a97e36\/w:388\/p:16x9\/2026-07-07T144705Z-1313766941-RC209MA38SS9-RTRMADP-3-NATO-SUMMIT-TRUMP.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/827a8f82-7aa6-11f1-a6c7-005056a97e36\/w:720\/p:16x9\/2026-07-07T144705Z-1313766941-RC209MA38SS9-RTRMADP-3-NATO-SUMMIT-TRUMP.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/827a8f82-7aa6-11f1-a6c7-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/2026-07-07T144705Z-1313766941-RC209MA38SS9-RTRMADP-3-NATO-SUMMIT-TRUMP.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump is greeted by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan after arriving at Etimesgut Air Base in Ankara, Turkey on July 7, 2026.\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                US President Donald Trump is greeted by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan after arriving at Etimesgut Air Base in Ankara, Turkey on July 7, 2026.        \u00a9 Jonathan Ernst, Reuters    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__body u-clearfix\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_self\">Trump<\/a> on Tuesday became the first US president visit to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/turkey\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Turkey<\/a> in 11 years, arriving with a pledge to lift US sanctions imposed on its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/nato\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">NATO<\/a> ally over its purchase of Russian defence missiles and the suggestion that the US would sell Turkey F-35 fighter jets.<\/p>\n<p>In a demonstration of warming relations between Washington and Ankara, Trump was welcomed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/recep-tayyip-erdogan\/\" target=\"_self\">President Tayyip Erdogan<\/a> at the airport with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/live-news\/20260707-turkish-delight-trump-revels-in-erdogan-s-lavish-welcome\" target=\"_self\">lavish \u200bstate ceremony<\/a> during which Turkish soldiers \u200criding horses escorted Trump&#8217;s motorcade to the presidential palace.<\/p>\n<p>Both leaders sang each other&#8217;s praises in their public remarks.<\/p>\n<p>Relations between the two nations have been strained since Turkey&#8217;s 2019 acquisition of a Russian S-400 system and Washington&#8217;s 2020 imposition of US <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/sanctions\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">sanctions<\/a> on a major Turkish \u2060defence company and removal of Turkey from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program.<\/p>\n<p>Although the jet sales are currently blocked under US law, Trump indicated his possible support for reversing this even as he did not say how exactly such a \u200ctransaction would take place given objections from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/us-congress\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">US Congress<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Turkey has been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal. &#8230; It&#8217;s a great plane, it&#8217;s the best, currently the best plane by far. And it&#8217;s certainly something we will consider,&#8221; Trump \u200bsaid.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also said the US would be &#8220;taking the sanctions off&#8221;, Turkey.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s time. We don&#8217;t want to sanction friends,&#8221; he said, adding that his secretary of state and treasury secretary were working on \u200cthe issue.<\/p>\n<p>Israeli Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a>\u00a0reacted Tuesday by saying that the US sale of fighter jets to Turkey would &#8220;destroy&#8221; the balance of power in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/middle-east\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Middle East<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It would destroy the power balance in the Middle East, because Turkey, I think, has aggressive aspirations,&#8221; Netanyahu told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/cnn\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">CNN<\/a> in a televised interview, adding: &#8220;When you give them that power, you&#8217;re going to see aggression in its wake.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;No concerns&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Turkey has long sought to be readmitted to the F-35 program and for US sanctions that have hampered Turkish defence projects to be lifted.<\/p>\n<p>Erdogan is counting on his good relations with Trump to help secure the delivery of five jets, for which payment has already been made.<\/p>\n<p>The Turkish leader said on Tuesday: &#8220;We have discussed this before with the US and were promised five jets,&#8221; adding: &#8220;I know that Mr. Trump always keeps his promises.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Congress passed a law in late 2019 prohibiting any F-35 sales to Turkey as long as it retained the S-400s, saying the Russian system posed a security \u200brisk to US-made combat aircraft. Currently, US law does not permit Turkey to operate or possess the S-400 system if it wishes to rejoin the F-35 program.<\/p>\n<p>A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Republican Representative \u200bMike Lawler and Democratic Representative Brad Sherman, last week wrote a letter to Trump expressing their &#8220;deep concern&#8221; about any F-35 sales to \u200bTurkey, citing the US law and Turkey&#8217;s relations with Iran and &#8220;anti-Israel rhetoric&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>When Trump was asked if he had any concerns about Ankara still being in possession of the Russian S-400s, he said he did not. &#8220;I have no concerns about anything having to do with Turkey,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I would say the relationship with Turkey right now is better probably than it&#8217;s ever been.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Trump and Erdogan\u2019s meeting took place ahead of the start of a two-day\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/nato\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">NATO<\/a> summit in Ankara, Turkey.<\/p>\n<p class=\"a-read-more\"><span class=\"a-read-more__label\">Read more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/europe\/20260708-ukraine-live-russia-launches-deadly-strikes-kyiv-nato-leaders-prepare-meet-in-ankara\" target=\"_self\" class=\"a-read-more__link\">Live: NATO chief Rutte says US still &#8216;completely committed&#8217; to alliance<\/a><\/p>\n<p>NATO allies increasingly see Turkey, which has the alliance&#8217;s second-largest military and is a leading exporter of armed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/drones\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">drones<\/a>, as a bulwark against Russian aggression on the southeastern flank while concerns about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/human-rights\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">human rights<\/a> and press freedoms are seldom expressed.<\/p>\n<p>As Trump has ratcheted \u2060up his criticism of NATO over what he describes as the pact&#8217;s refusal to help with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/iran-conflict\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Iran war<\/a>, members are unlikely to criticise Turkey&#8217;s declining democracy and rule of law, particularly after the Republican president said he may not have attended the \u2060NATO summit at all if it hadn&#8217;t \u200bbeen Erdogan who invited him.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey has seen an unprecedented legal crackdown on the country&#8217;s main opposition Republican People&#8217;s Party, including the jailing of its presidential candidate, Istanbul&#8217;s Mayor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/ekrem-imamoglu\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Ekrem Imamoglu<\/a>, Erdogan&#8217;s main rival.<\/p>\n<p>Under Trump, Turkey&#8217;s deteriorating human rights track record has \u2060never been a topic of much concern for Washington.<\/p>\n<p><em>(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"o-sidebar__aside\">\n<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--box o-ad-container--with-shimmer\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__tags t-content__below-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"m-section-title m-section-title--small\">Keywords for this article<\/div>\n<ul class=\"m-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/turkey\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Turkey\">    Turkey<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/usa\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"USA\">    USA<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/recep-tayyip-erdogan\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Recep Tayyip Erdogan\">    Recep Tayyip Erdogan<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Donald Trump\">    Donald Trump<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/sanctions\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"sanctions\">    sanctions<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/weapons\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"weapons\">    weapons<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/israel\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Israel\">    Israel<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Benjamin Netanyahu\">    Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertising Netanyahu warns US could &#8216;destroy&#8217; Mideast power balance as Trump floats F-35 jet sale&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1819\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}