Trump Must Abandon His Dangerous Plan to Sell F-35s to Turkey

Gatestone Institute ^ | July 19, 2026 | Con Coughlin

[Mr. Mojo]

• Trump's willingness to even consider lifting the F-35 ban is being seen in the context of his charm offensive to forge closer ties with Erdogan, an initiative the American leader has undertaken despite the Turkish leader's well-documented support for radical Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.

• Erdogan also seems to have initiated a charm offensive, most likely with at least a partial view to prying loose those F-35s.

• According to the report published by Israel's i24News, Kurdish militias were preparing to launch an attack on Iran with the aim of instigating a nationwide rebellion against the ayatollahs' tyrannical rule when the US halted the operation due to pressure from Erdogan.

• Apart from Erdogan's long-held support for the Islamist ideology espoused by the expansionist Muslim Brotherhood and its allies, the Turkish leader has also been accused of actively thwarting the Trump administration's attempts to disarm Hamas terrorists in Gaza as part of its peace initiative in the enclave.

• Efforts to pressure Hamas's terrorist leadership into fulfilling its disarmament obligations have, though, been stymied by the interventions of Turkey and Qatar, the Gulf state that also supports a variety of Islamist groups, which have actively used their influence to delay the disarmament process.

• Turkey's obstructive approach to the disarmament issue in Gaza follows a series of public statements in which Erdogan has explicitly stated that he regards Israel as a potential enemy, and that the two countries could soon find themselves involved in a direct military confrontation. With Turkey desperately jockeying to replace Iran as the region's dominant power, such a prospect cannot be dismissed lightly.

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Hamas; Hezbollah; Iran; Israel; Russia; Syria; Ukraine; War on Terror; Yemen
KEYWORDS: armenia; azerbaijan; bafflethemwithbs; concoughlin; cyprus; erdogan; f35; gatestoneinstitute; hamas; hezbollah; iran; irgc; israel; jihadiliz; kurdistan; muslimbrotherhood; nato; receptayyiperdogan; republicofgeorgia; russia; syria; trump; turkey; ukraine; waronterror; yemen

[Thank You Rush]

ARM the Kurds, President Trump...SUPPORT the Kurds...

[Brian Griffin]

“Kurdish militias were preparing to launch an attack on Iran with the aim of instigating a nationwide rebellion against the ayatollahs’ tyrannical rule when the US halted the operation due to pressure from Erdogan”

Given how the US abandoned allies in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, I doubt the Kurds would do anything.

The Kurds know the bitter meaning of betrayal.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

We are in a bizarre situation. Turkey is in NATO. Theoretically, if we need to go to war with Russia, Turkey would be a critical strategic location and ally in that effort. So as a NATO member, we should be selling Turkey weapons. So refusing to sell Turkey the F-35s opens up a much bigger question of whether NATO should exist, whether Turkey actually would be a good NATO ally and whether Turkey should be in NATO.

[dfwgator]

Once Russia is neutralized, Turkey will become our biggest enemy. They are in NATO to help eliminate Russia, because it is only Russia that will stop them from Ottoman Empire 2.0.

[Arkady]

If Erdogan wants to replace Iran as the region’s dominant power, which I believe is true, why would he obstruct the Kurds from fighting the Iranian Guard?
Also, why is Turkey in Nato?

[Leaning Right]

It’s not 1960 anymore. We don’t need a well-armed Turkey as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union.

Plus, today’s Turkey is radically Islamic. Any advanced weapons we supply to them would be used only against Israel. Mr. Trump would do well to just drag the process out so that Turkey gets nothing.

[Brian Griffin]

Given the state of Turkish-Israeli relations, I would hold off at this time.

I think Turkish need for F-35s is small at this time. Russia is tied up in Ukraine and Iran is in no position to threaten Turkey. Syria apparently has stabilized and the Russians can’t spare a large force for placement in Syria.

Turkey needs to stabilize its currency.

[Liz]

The “Gatestone Institute” is a New York City-based “non-profit”
policy propagandist for the Israeli-centric Middle East.

It was founded in 2008 by Nina Rosenwald and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization.
A descendant of Jewish refugees, Rosenwald assiduously focuses on donating to pro-Israel organizations.

As a duplicitous “front,” Gatestone self-servingly describes its mission as
“promoting democracy,” the “rule of law,” and “free-market principles. “

Gatestone garnered significant attention and controversy
by featuring critics of “conservative organizations.”

Media observers have accused Gatestone of publishing
inaccurate or false information, which has gone viral.

You can read and research commentary on the Gatestone Institute Website.

[Waverunner]

The Kurdish state was divided between Iran,Iraq and Turkey. Turkey fears any independant Kurdish region, because the Turks would eventually have a Kurdish state wanting it’s territory back. Also the fact that the greatest Muslim military leader in history was a Kurd called Saladin might scare them as well.

[adorno]

Sell them the F-35s, but with a turn-off/cutoff switch if they ever turn against the U.S. or Israel or NATO countries, or any of our allies. The Turkey military doesn’t need to know if we can remotely control how they use the F-35s.

So, is there such a thing or can such a thing be developed?

[Jan_Sobieski]

Once Russia is neutralized, Turkey will become our biggest enemy. They are in NATO to help eliminate Russia, because it is only Russia that will stop them from Ottoman Empire 2.0.

Russia will go nuclear before they’re neutralized. They’ve promised this hundreds of times.

[Gunslingr3]

Once Russia is neutralized, Turkey will become our biggest enemy.

roflMAO

They are in NATO to help eliminate Russia

NATO is a defensive alliance, it doesn't exist to 'eliminate' anyone. Neocons can't ever seem to figure this out, so they're always looking for someone that NATO can attack.

because it is only Russia that will stop them from Ottoman Empire 2.0.

Actually, all their neighbors who don't want to be part of the Ottoman Empire 2.0 will stop them. Believe it or not, there is no lust by the Arabs, Persians, or others, to be ruled by the Turks. Turkey is more interested in suppressing the factions that would break it apart than trying to incorporate new factions who would certainly break it apart (again).

[Leaning Right]

> Sell them the F-35s, but with a turn-off/cutoff switch… <

That’s in interesting idea. But the old saying would apply:
For every measure, there’s a countermeasure.

If we do sell Turkey those planes (bad move), the best we could do is control their access to spare parts.

[Democrat = party of treason]

Seriously, do you REALLY think Trump would sell them those planes. If you do, then you don’t understand DJT.

[Gunslingr3]

One of the most obvious things has been the neocon turn on Turkey the moment it was seen as an impediment to attacking Iran:

Turkey and the Neocons

June 15, 2010

It couldn't be more predictable. Back when Israel and Turkey were strategic allies with extensive military-to-military ties, prominent neoconservatives were vocal defenders of the Turkish government and groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and AIPAC encouraged Congress not to pass resolutions that would have labeled what happened to the Armenians at the hands of the Turks during World War I a "genocide." (The "Armenian lobby" is no slouch, but it's no match for AIPAC and its allies in the Israel lobby). The fact that the ADL was in effect protecting another country against the charge of genocide is more than a little ironic, but who ever said that political organizations had to be ethically consistent? Once relations between Israel and Turkey began to fray, however -- fueled primarily by Turkish anger over Israel's treatment of the Palestinians -- the ADL and AIPAC withdrew their protection and Congressional defenders of Israel began switching sides, too.

Why Are Neocons Attacking Turkey?

July 23, 2008

Some neoconservatives in Washington are obsessed with attacking Iran before President Bush leaves office at the end of this year. Hence, they have been pushing the Bush administration for increased economic and political isolation of Iran in order to weaken its current regime. Crucial to this plan is the support of Turkey, a traditional U.S. ally and an increasingly critical player in the region. But to the enormous frustration of the neoconservatives, such an attack does not align with Turkey’s interests given its newly enhanced regional ties, maturing democracy, and new foreign policy. Instead, Turkey plays the negotiator role and favors diplomacy and direct talks to resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

[libertylover]

Good points.

[falcon99]

Turkey, under Erdogan, is not our friend.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Turkey’s real estate is the most strategic location in the world. Erdogan is a tinpot dictator but I think it would be good to take the long view and try to keep Turkey “on side” rather than push them away. There are a lot of elements in the Turkish military who would love to get rid of him and bring Turkey back firmly into the Western alliance. They are weak now because their last coup failed. But a lot of dynamics are present in Turkey. Its not just Erdogan 100% controlling everything. So I’d be inclined to tolerate some of Turkey’s nonsense to keep them on board and look for the opportunity to weaken Erdogan and ease him out. It will happen one day.

[Arkady]

Thanks! Must be the same Saladin who fought the “leper-king” of Jerusalem during the crusades.