United States Provides F-35 Fighter Jets to Turkey

The Federal government of the United States is providing F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, a decision that critics argue empowers President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's "Neo-Ottoman" ambitions to establish regional hegemony. Opponents of the transfer claim the advanced fifth-generation aircraft will supercharge Turkey's ability to project power across the Middle East, the Red Sea, and the Horn of Africa, specifically threatening Israel and indigenous populations such as the Tigrinya nation.

During a visit to Turkey, President Donald Trump stated that Erdoğan claimed Turkey would have aligned with Iran against Israel if not for their personal friendship. This exchange is characterized by some as coercive diplomacy used by Turkey to pressure Washington into providing the aircraft.

Critics view the geopolitical shift as a strategic blunder that ignores Turkey's authoritarian trajectory. They point to the Government of Turkey's ongoing efforts to expand its military influence through the establishment of bases in Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, and Libya.