Israel and Greece ‘on alert’ after Trump’s $700,000,000 sale of F-35’s to Turkey; efforts underway to block sale

Peloni:  This will have a permanent effect of diminishing Israeli dominance in the region at the expense of promoting Turkey ever higher over the region. Why is the Trump administration so motivated to purposefully empower the Muslim Brotherhood led Turkey to such a position of influence in the region?

By | July 2, 2026

Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander performs a high-speed pass during the Oregon International Airshow Sept. 21, 2019 in McMinnville, OR. The F-35 Demo Team co-headlined the show with the Royal Air Force Red Arrows. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Alexander Cook) By Air Force Senior Airman Alexander Cook - https://media.defense.gov/2019/Sep/25/2002186916/-1/-1/0/190921-F-BQ566-1004A.JPG, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133855399Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander performs a high-speed pass during the Oregon International Airshow Sept. 21, 2019 in McMinnville, OR. Photo by Air Force Senior Airman Alexander Cook – Media.defense.gov, Public Domain, Wikipedia

Jihad Watch reported that “Both Republicans and Democrats oppose Trump’s mad plan to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.” According to YNet News…

Israel and Greece have consistently opposed the possibility of Turkey acquiring the stealth fighters, arguing that such a move would harm their technological edge and alter the regional balance of power. Greece has already ordered F-35s, while the Israeli Air Force operates a unique version of the aircraft, which has taken part in operations in Lebanon, Syria and Iran.

But it’s much more than that. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a paramount threat to Israel and Greece and a menace. In recognition of that, Greece “fiercely” lobbied France last year to halt sale of radar-guided, air-to-air Meteor missiles to Turkey. And Erdogan has ominously stated that “Israel’s ‘aggression’ poses ‘a ?threat to the whole world and must be stopped.’” Israel and Greece are now on alert. “Israel, Greece on alert as Turkey’s return to F-35 heats up,” by Sarantis Michalopoulos and Björn Stritzel, Euractiv, June 30, 2026:

US President Donald Trump’s apparent determination to make Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an “happy” at the NATO summit in Ankara next month has heightened concerns in neighbouring Greece and Israel, both of which oppose any sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.

“I’m going to probably do something that will make them (Turkey) very happy,” Trump said last week when asked about his plans for the NATO summit in Ankara on 7–8 July.

Reuters reported that the Trump administration has already notified Congress of its intention to approve the sale of US engines worth €613 million for KAAN, Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft, which is currently under development.

The bigger question, however, is whether Washington will also pave the way for Turkey to acquire F-35 fighter jets. Ankara was removed from the F-35 programme in 2019 after purchasing the Russian S-400 air defence system, which Washington argued posed a threat to the aircraft’s sensitive technology by potentially collecting radar data on the F-35.

Israel and Greece have consistently opposed any Turkish acquisition of the US-made aircraft, arguing that it would erode their technological edge and alter the regional military balance. While Greece has ordered the F-35, Israel is operating its own modified version of the aircraft, which has seen combat over Lebanon, Syria and Iran…

Turkey has been described as “the new Iran,” and for good reason. Its reputation has aligned with that depiction:

Trump has also unwisely stated of Erdogan: “I like him. He’s a friend of mine. And he stayed out of the war…You know, he was a leading candidate to get involved in the war with Iran… He’s not a big fan of Israel, as you know…And I asked him to stay out of it, and he stayed out.”

Trump is getting justified pushback:

 

The Armenian National Committee of America is now reportedly mobilizing efforts, along with Hellenic American allies “and a bipartisan group of U.S. House members,” to block the Trump administration’s F-35 fighter jets sale to Turkey.

 

July 3, 2026 | 20 Comments »

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  1. Peloni: This will have a permanent effect of diminishing Israeli dominance in the region at the expense of promoting Turkey ever higher over the region. Why is the Trump administration so motivated to purposefully empower the Muslim Brotherhood led Turkey to such a position of influence in the region?

    Because he is a pile of shit who is in the pocket of the muslim brotherhood. Notice in his speech he never attacked islam, just communism.

    • @Laura

      Notice in his speech he never attacked islam, just communism.

      Actually, all he has to do is to deal with the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood in his own backyard. Beyond all other matters, this remains the most concerning issue with Trump, IMO.

  2. I hope Donaldo and Sebastien are right. I always think about Trump’s close relationship with Dr. Mehmet Oz, who holds dual citizenship with Turkey and America and votes in both elections. They became very close friends while both having programs at the same station. Oz is a Muslim and has a close friendship with Erdogan. Is this the influence on Trump?

    I still have a huge problem with Trump putting a Muslim in charge of Medicare/Medicaid.

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    • Thank God John Fetterman defeated that muslim piece of shit dr.oz. That is the one time where a democrat victory has been a blessing.
      I warned folks about Trump that he has no true convictions. He’s being bought by qatar and now we know he is in the pocket of erdogan. That is why he threw the Kurds under the bus and now he is throwing Israel under the bus. Israel will be in a far worse position after Trump’s presidency. He’s also working behind the scenes to defeat Bibi in the next election.
      TRUMP IS HE WORST PRESIDENT FOR ISRAEL. He achieved that by pretending to be Israel’s friend and gaining its trust. Then he stuck in the knife.

        • @Laura

          Trump also laid the ground for Iran eventually getting nukes.

          No, that preceded Trump, and formed part of the basis on which Trump was elected if you will recall. At a minimum, Trump has significantly damaged the infrastructure behind Iran’s nuclear program. The question is whether he is going to complete the job or if he will continue to follow in the path of those whose actions he chastised before coming to office. The negotiations will not give him the solution he is demanding, which will leave him to choose between finishing the job or capitulating further. In any event, that choice will come no sooner than August 22, and possibly later than that if additional extensions ot the MOU are granted. So time will tell.

  3. Turkey Isn’t Getting the F-35, Rubio Says
    June 6, 2026

    Rubio’s comments came in response to US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who had suggested that Ankara should rejoin the program—in violation of existing US law.
    Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear in recent testimony to Congress that the door remains closed on NATO member Turkey obtaining the F-35 Lightning II, despite earlier mixed messaging from the administration.
    During testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Rubio maintained that under US law, Turkey could not legally rejoin the program under present conditions.

    https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/turkey-isnt-getting-f-35-rubio-says-ps-060626

  4. “‘Political systems cannot sustain it’: Turkish FM calls for sanctions on Israel, Sa’ar retaliates
    “Israel is not only Turkey’s problem, and it is not only President Erdo?an’s problem,” the Turkish foreign minister said. “These people have become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.”

    “Dehumanizing the Jewish people as an “unbearable burden” is the classic, horrific language of history’s worst eliminationist regimes. The civilized world and Turkey’s NATO allies must unequivocally condemn this explicit call for the erasure of Israel,” he added…

    “Earlier in the same interview, Fidan addressed his country’s relations with the US. The Turkish minister claimed that Washington was willing to lift the CAATSA sanctions previously imposed on Ankara, and that the US viewed Turkey as a key partner and a stabilizing force

    “what are the CAATSA sanctions on Turkey ”

    ” +4 The United States imposed CAATSA sanctions on Turkey in December 2020 due to Ankara’s procurement of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. The penalties specifically target Turkey’s defense procurement agency, the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB).The sanctions include:Export Restrictions: A complete ban on U.S. export licenses and authorizations for any goods or technology transferred to the SSB.Financial Limitations: A prohibition on loans or credits from U.S. financial institutions to the SSB exceeding $10 million in any 12-month period, as well as a ban on U.S. Export-Import Bank assistance.International Opposition: A legal requirement for the U.S. to oppose loans benefitting the SSB by international financial institutions.Individual Penalties: Full blocking sanctions (freezing assets) and visa restrictions imposed on four key SSB officers, including its president Ismail Demir.In addition to these CAATSA measures, the dispute resulted in Turkey’s removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, blocking the delivery of jets that Turkey had already purchased.The United States and Turkey have been in ongoing discussions regarding the removal of these sanctions and a potential return to the F-35 program, which hinges on resolving the S-400 issue.”

    https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-901311

  5. If the Turks get the F35, it will be a Turkish version and you can bet your last $ that they will insist on not having or needing to call home (ET?) before any flight. However, I doubt they will back down if the US refuses that. The next US government may decide something else to keep them happy like adding in the Israeli goodies. To be honest, there is no guarantee that they can be trusted past the next election cycle.

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  6. This will have a permanent effect of diminishing Israeli dominance in the region at the expense of promoting Turkey ever higher over the region. Why is the Trump administration so motivated to purposefully empower the Muslim Brotherhood led Turkey to such a position of influence in the region?

    Yes, indeed this is the question.
    Why?
    Is Trump stupid? Is he blind?
    Does he really think that Turkey is a relable ally?

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    • does turkey have the engineering capability to service and maintain the F35?

      +12 Yes. Turkey has immense engineering and industrial capabilities to service and maintain the F-35. Prior to its removal from the Joint Strike Fighter program, Turkish aerospace companies were responsible for manufacturing over 800 airframe and 188 engine components, including center fuselage sections for the Lockheed Martin F-35.Ankara’s domestic defense base possesses extensive experience with the F-35 ecosystem:Engine Sustainment: Turkish companies like TEI (TUSA? Engine Industries) have decades of experience assembling and maintaining advanced engines.Industrial Base: Major aerospace firms like TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) have highly equipped facilities, originally upgraded to mill composite skins and landing gear forgings for the F-35.Indigenous Development: Turkey has actively leveraged its engineering knowledge to develop its own fifth-generation stealth fighter, the KAAN.Despite this capability, Lockheed Martin F-35 sustainment is tightly governed by strict U.S. laws and software dependencies. Turkey’s readmission into the program has been a subject of ongoing, high-level diplomatic discussions.If you are interested in the technological differences between the aircraft, let me know if you would like to:Compare the F-35 with Turkey’s indigenous stealth fighter, the KAANExplore the legal conditions required for Turkey to rejoin the Lockheed Martin F-35 programLet me know how you’d like to narrow down the topic.

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      • If a democrat is elected president, what is the likelihood of the restrictions being taken off the Turkish F35

        +6 The likelihood of restrictions being lifted is very low. Under U.S. law, specifically Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), transferring the F-35 to Turkey is strictly prohibited as long as Turkey retains the Russian S-400 missile defense system.Key Challenges to Lifting Restrictions:Statutory Law: Section 1245 requires Congress to receive certification that Turkey no longer possesses or operates the S-400 system, and that it poses no risk to sensitive Lockheed Martin F-35 technology.Bipartisan Opposition: Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike remain deeply opposed to readmitting Turkey to the program, expressing concerns over S-400 integration, regional tensions, and Turkey’s ties with Hamas and other adversaries.Congressional Review: Any breakthrough would likely trigger joint resolutions of disapproval by lawmakers, as seen in congressional efforts to block similar defense transfers.Ultimately, lifting the restrictions would require a complete reversal of Turkish S-400 operations and significant legislative amendments, neither of which is currently anticipated regardless of the president’s political party.

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        • has turkey removed its russian technology +5 Turkey has not yet officially removed or returned its Russian-supplied S-400 missile systems, although the hardware has largely remained in storage and un-deployed. Discussions regarding a potential “buy-back” or disposal mechanism are ongoing as Ankara attempts to meet United States legal requirements to rejoin the F-35 Fighter Jet Program.The U.S. previously removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 and imposed CAATSA sanctions due to security concerns over integrating Russian technology with NATO defenses. While Turkey has expressed willingness to part with the S-400s and is working on its own domestic “Steel Dome” air defense system, formal divestment and U.S. certification remain pending.

          What the h*ll is going on?

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  7. Yabutt, the cool thing about the F35s the US sells to countries like Turkey an the Saudiis is they become expensive bricks with a single signal from US SpaceForce should the US choose to disable them.

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    • f35i adir

      +4 ” The F-35I “Adir” (meaning “Mighty One” in Hebrew) is a heavily customized, sovereign variant of the American Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighter, tailored specifically for the Israeli Air Force (IAF). It is the only F-35 variant globally granted permission for deep indigenous modifications.Key Customizations & CapabilitiesIndigenous Electronics: The Adir features unique “plug-and-play” main computers and custom electronic warfare (EW) systems. This allows the IAF to integrate its own weapons, pods, and sensors without relying on the U.S. supply chain.Independent Upgrades: Israel maintains the aircraft domestically and holds the authority to upgrade software and mission data files independently.Stealth Fuel Tanks: Custom, stealth-conformal fuel tanks are integrated to increase the aircraft’s range for deep-strike operations.Operational HistoryCombat Firsts: The Adir made history as the first F-35 to see combat (2018), the first to shoot down an airborne drone (2021), and the first to intercept an incoming cruise missile (2023).Long-Range Strikes: The stealth fighter is frequently utilized for long-range missions and has seen action in theaters across the Middle East, including deep strikes in Yemen and Iran.ProcurementIsrael was the first country outside the U.S. to select the F-35, signing a procurement agreement in 2010 and officially receiving its first jets in 2016. The IAF has continued to expand its fleet, finalizing a $3 billion deal to purchase an additional 25 jets, bringing its total planned fleet to 75 aircraft.For comprehensive specifications, history, and program updates, explore the detailed breakdown on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Global Enterprise page.”

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    • “the F35s the US sells to countries like Turkey and the Saudis is they become expensive bricks with a single signal from US Space Force should the US choose to disable them.” true?

      Yes and no. Read on.

      “22 sitesNo, this claim is false. The U.S. military does not possess a cinematic, remote “kill switch” that can instantly turn an airborne F-35 into an “expensive brick” via a satellite signal.Furthermore, the specific premise regarding the countries is inaccurate: Turkey does not own F-35s because they were officially removed from the program in 2019, and while a sale to Saudi Arabia has been proposed, no jets have been delivered yet.The reality behind the “kill switch” rumor involves a more realistic form of logistical leverage rather than a remote-control shutdown:1. The Myth of the Remote Kill SwitchThe Pentagon, Lockheed Martin, and foreign defense ministries have formally and repeatedly debunked the rumor of a remote electronic kill switch. The F-35’s complex data systems—such as the Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN) and the Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL)—are designed for secure communication, diagnostics, and mission planning, not for the U.S. Space Force or any other agency to take remote control of the aircraft or disable it mid-flight.

      2. The Real “Kill Switch”: Digital and Logistical ChokepointsWhile the U.S. cannot push a button to drop a plane out of the sky, it retains massive, unmatched leverage over any country operating the F-35. If a buyer acts against U.S. strategic interests, Washington can effectively ground their fleet over time through the following methods:Severing Cloud Access: The F-35 must regularly connect to U.S.-managed servers to download daily mission data files, threat libraries, and software updates. Without these, the jet’s advanced sensors and radar software would quickly become outdated and unable to counter modern threats.Cutting the Supply Chain: The F-35 program relies on a globalized, just-in-time logistics network managed by the U.S.. If the U.S. halts the supply of proprietary spare parts, an ally’s fleet would be grounded within weeks due to standard wear and tear.”

      Except for Israel. In fact, I recall reading that when it first came out, Israel fixed the fatal bugs in the system and sold the fix back to the U.S. for 2 million dollars! The original prototype crashed on the way to the Middle East and could be tracked audibly from the ground because it was that noisy, even if invisible to radar. It was Israeli engineers who saved it from being just “an expensive brick.”

      I know you’re a busy man, what with saving the world and all, but I nonetheless believe a little thank you note would be in order, President Trump! A pat on the back for a job well done. And an apology. If only after the mid-terms (see, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt over my lying eyes*.)

      Thank you for your attention to this matter.

      * “my lying eyes marx brothers”

      “The famous phrase “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?” is a popular culture mutation of a line spoken by Chico Marx in the 1933 Marx Brothers comedy masterpiece Duck Soup.While frequently misattributed to his brother Groucho Marx, the original joke belongs to Chico and unfolds in a specific way:The Real Movie QuoteIn the film, Chico’s character (Chicolini) disguises himself as Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho). When the high-society character Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) catches him, the dialogue goes:Mrs. Teasdale: “Your Excellency, I thought you’d left!”Chicolini: “Oh no, I no leave.”Mrs. Teasdale: “But I saw you with my own eyes!”Chicolini: “Well, who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?”

      How the “Lying Eyes” Part EvolvedChico’s Version: Chico originally said “your own eyes” rather than “lying eyes”.Richard Pryor’s Twist: Comedian Richard Pryor heavily popularized the exact phrase “me or your lying eyes” during his famous 1982 Live on the Sunset Strip stand-up routine. He used it during a joke about a husband getting caught red-handed by his wife.Legal Misquote: In 1997, prominent attorney Daniel Petrocelli famously misquoted the movie line during the O.J. Simpson civil trial, attributing the modified “lying eyes” version directly to Groucho Marx.”
      —
      Nope, AI Overview made a mistake, here. Groucho says it while posing as Chico. It’s a surreal bit. Last 21 seconds of this scene in which they take turns impersonating each other rapid-fire. Groucho says it in Chico’s fake Italian accent.

      https://youtu.be/cHxGUe1cjzM?is=Xuppn3kNnYwKqScy

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      • Correction: while posing as Chico posing as himself. Well! He not only fooled Margaret Dumont, he fooled the AI Overview that wouldn’t be born for another century! (Give or take.)

        Oh wow, Eddie Murphy borrowed the concept from Richard Pryor! Not the Groucho line which Pryor quotes in modified form, but the unique – or so I thought – take on infidelity which that line perfectly encapsulated.

        Richard Pryor 1982 Live on The Sunset Strip

        https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrugUrIA8zl/?hl=en

        Eddie Murphy 1987
        From his movie, “Raw” (Warning, vulgarity)

        https://youtu.be/gBdpX_HQsRw?is=Vs0gKOyGwhQ2C7H7

        In the scene from Duck Soup, 1933, Groucho and Chico are diving in and out from under Margaret Dumont’s bed, dressed in nightclothes pretending to be the same person.

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