Trump's F-35 Offer to Turkey Collides With Israel's Qualitative Edge Doctrine

Trump announced July 7 he will lift sanctions on Turkey and consider F-35 fighter jet sales to Ankara. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned the sale would "upset the power balance in the Middle East," citing Israel's need to maintain air superiority. The move exposes a core tension: restoring a NATO ally's access to fifth-generation jets while honoring the qualitative military edge doctrine enshrined in US law governing Middle Eastern arms sales.