Turkey eyes F-35s from US, plans S-400 sale; Israel faces setback

Ankara: In a major geopolitical development, Israel has formally urged the United States to block the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, citing serious security concerns. The request comes amid rising fears in Tel Aviv that Turkey's possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system could compromise the stealth technology of the F-35, thereby threatening Israel’s strategic edge in the region.

According to Israeli officials, granting Turkey access to F-35s could pose a direct threat to Middle Eastern security. Israel is particularly concerned that data from the F-35 jets could be exposed to Russian systems and potentially shared with adversaries, including Pakistan and China, due to Turkey's growing military cooperation with both nations.

The controversy gained traction after reports surfaced suggesting Turkey might sell its S-400 system to Pakistan — a move that has raised alarms across multiple security establishments. The potential sale is seen as part of a broader defense collaboration between Ankara and Islamabad.

Why Israel Is Opposed to Turkey Receiving F-35s

Defense analysts argue that Israel’s opposition is rooted not only in concerns about the S-400 but also Turkey’s deepening military ties with Pakistan — a country with strategic connections to China. There is growing unease that sensitive U.S. and Israeli stealth technologies could eventually be exposed to Chinese surveillance or replicated through reverse engineering.

Strengthening Turkey-Pakistan Military Ties

Adding to the complexity, Turkey and Pakistan recently reinforced their military alliance during high-level meetings in Islamabad. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yasar Guler visited Pakistan and held talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief General Asim Munir.

These meetings reportedly focused on joint defense initiatives, arms sales, and military training, signaling stronger cooperation between the two nations. Pakistan’s foreign minister publicly acknowledged Turkey’s support during recent tensions with India — further highlighting the strategic closeness between the two.

The growing triangle of military collaboration between Turkey, Pakistan, and China — combined with Ankara’s access to advanced NATO weaponry and Russian systems — has prompted Israel to take a strong stance, asking Washington to reconsider any future defense deals with Turkey, especially those involving cutting-edge platforms like the F-35.

This evolving defense alignment in the region continues to be closely monitored by global powers, including India, which has expressed concern over these emerging partnerships.