US President Donald Trump has lifted sanctions imposed on Turkey in 2020 over its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system and announced that Washington is open to considering the sale of fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jets to Ankara. Although it remains uncertain whether Turkey will eventually acquire the aircraft, Trump's remarks have sparked concern in Israel, which has consistently opposed such a move. The prospect is also expected to attract attention in India due to Turkey's growing defence cooperation and strategic ties with Pakistan.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, supersonic stealth fighter designed for both air-superiority and precision strike missions. The United States tightly controls exports of the aircraft, approving sales only to trusted allies after evaluating technology security risks and the potential impact on regional military balances.
These concerns prompted Washington to remove Turkey from the F-35 programme in July 2019 after Ankara purchased the Russian S-400 air defence system. The US later imposed sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in December 2020.
Seven years later, the situation has changed. The latest development was announced on Tuesday (July 7).
Since returning to the White House, Trump has sought to improve relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. That effort culminated in his decision to lift the sanctions and revive the possibility of selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
"Trump now wants to rebuild bridges with Turkey... so F-35s have become the military bridge between the two countries," defence expert and senior journalist Sandeep Unnithan told India Today Digital.
Why is the US reconsidering the F-35 sale to Turkey?
To understand what Turkey's possible acquisition of the F-35 could mean for the region, it is important to examine how Washington's position shifted from excluding Ankara from the programme to reconsidering its participation.
The dispute began in 2017 when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan approved the purchase of Russia's S-400 air defence system. The US argued that operating the S-400 alongside the F-35 could expose the stealth fighter's radar signatures, undermining its technological advantages. As a result, the Trump administration removed Turkey from the F-35 programme in 2019 and later imposed CAATSA sanctions in 2020.
India also faced the possibility of CAATSA sanctions after purchasing the S-400 system but ultimately secured an exemption from the US Congress.
"The US has ensured none of its treaty allies buy top-of-the-line Russian GBAD [Ground-Based Air Defence] systems like the S-400... because the S-400 could be trained to detect radar signatures of the F-35, severely compromising its effectiveness," Unnithan explained.
Congress subsequently ruled that Turkey could not rejoin the F-35 programme unless it disposed of its S-400 systems and committed not to purchase similar Russian equipment in the future.
That stance has now softened. Following talks with President Erdoğan on Tuesday, Trump announced that the 2020 sanctions would be lifted and said the US was willing to consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. Explaining the decision, Trump said Turkey had become "much more loyal" than before, according to The Wall Street Journal.
"We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal," Trump said. "It's something certainly we'd consider. It's a great plane... the best plane by far," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
"Trump now wants to rebuild bridges with Turkey, primarily because of its geographic location — on the Bosphorus Strait, connecting Asia and Europe. So the F-35s and GE F110 jet engines — which Trump has promised for Ankara's own fifth-generation fighter programme — have become the military bridge between the two countries," Unnithan added.
Why does Israel oppose Turkey receiving the F-35?
Israel's opposition to a potential F-35 sale is rooted in worsening relations with Turkey and concerns about preserving its military superiority in the region.
Israeli officials view Turkey's expanding military presence in Syria and its growing defence partnerships with countries including Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia with increasing concern. In June, Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, claimed that Turkey, alongside Syria, had replaced Iran as Israel's most significant security threat.
Turkey, meanwhile, has criticised Israel's military operations in Syria, Iran and Lebanon, describing them as destabilising and harmful to regional security. President Erdoğan has also repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Beyond political disagreements, Israel fears that Turkish F-35s could weaken its longstanding air superiority. As Unnithan told India Today Digital, "Israel is the country most upset by the potential sale of F-35s to Turkey. It seriously jeopardises the Israeli Air Force's air dominance of the region."
In July 2026, amid reports that the US administration was considering readmitting Turkey to the F-35 programme or supplying engines for its indigenous KAAN fighter project, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly opposed the proposal.
Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu described Turkey as "a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood" and argued against rewarding Erdoğan, whom he accused of openly calling for Israel's destruction.
"I don't think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets, because that'll upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also by America's posture in the Middle East," Netanyahu said.
In a separate interview with CNN, Netanyahu warned that transferring fifth-generation stealth technology to Turkey could encourage regional aggression.
"Selling F-35s to Turkey would destroy the balance of power in the Middle East," he said, adding, "If you give such a radical regime, which smiles at the US when it needs to or smiles at the US president when it needs to, this power, you will see aggression follow."
Should India be concerned?
At first glance, Turkey's potential acquisition of the F-35 may not appear to have direct implications for India. However, the broader strategic environment makes the development significant.
Defence cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan has deepened in recent years. The two countries regularly conduct joint military exercises, while Pakistan has procured a range of Turkish defence equipment, including drones and warships. Their partnership drew particular attention during Operation Sindoor, when Turkey reportedly sent drones and military personnel to support Pakistan during India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
According to Unnithan, India's primary concern would arise if "Turkish Air Force F-35s start operating with / in support of the Pakistan Air Force in any future conflict with India."
Although such a scenario appears unlikely and would probably face strong opposition from the United States, it cannot be entirely dismissed. There have been historical precedents where countries supplied advanced aircraft to Pakistan during conflicts with India.
As Unnithan pointed out, "During the 1971 India-Pakistan War, Jordan loaned nine US-made F-104 Starfighters to the Pakistan Air Force for use against the Indian Air Force, possibly with the tacit consent of the Nixon administration. Hence, such a scenario cannot be entirely be ruled out by Indian planners."
For now, however, Turkey still faces significant hurdles before acquiring the F-35, including resolving concerns surrounding its Russian S-400 system. Moreover, Trump had previously expressed willingness to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, but no concrete agreement has followed. Even so, any movement toward supplying the aircraft to Turkey is likely to remain a source of concern for Israel while being closely monitored by India.
