Which countries have F-35, why Turkey lost US access & why Israel is not happy - explained
The United States is considering allowing Turkey to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program, a move that has drawn strong opposition from Israel. Turkey was previously removed from the program in 2019 after purchasing Russian S-400 missile defense systems.
Why it matters
The potential reversal of Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 program represents a significant shift in NATO defense dynamics and Middle Eastern military power balances.
The future of Turkey's access to the US-made F-35 stealth fighter has once again come under the spotlight after reports suggested that US President Donald Trump is considering allowing Ankara back into the programme.Washington reportedly discussed the issue with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Turkey, signalling a possible thaw in defence ties that have remained frozen since 2019.The development has also triggered opposition from Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly urged Washington not to sell the fifth-generation fighter to Turkey, arguing that doing so would alter the military balance in the Middle East.According to CNN, Netanyahu warned that supplying F-35s to Ankara would "destroy the power balance in the Middle East" and described Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as "not exactly a model ally of the United States."Why did Turkey lose access to the F-35?Turkey was one of the…
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