Скачать или смотреть Will Israel’s Opposition Ground Türkiye’s Eurofighter Deal?

As tensions simmer across the Middle East and Europe rethinks its defence priorities, Turkiye is quietly redrawing its own playbook. In a major step to upgrade its ageing air force, Ankara has signed a preliminary deal with the UK for Eurofighter Typhoons. If finalised, the deal could bring Turkiye back into the high-end fighter game. But the road won't be easy. Israel's opposition is reportedly lobbying Berlin to block the sale, citing Ankara's stance on Gaza.

For nearly a decade, Turkiye has pushed to modernise its air force, but it's been a bumpy flight. First came its expulsion from the US-led F-35 program over the Russian S-400 purchase. Then, long-stalled talks with Washington over F-16 upgrades left Ankara searching for alternatives. And now, Israel could be looking to ground Türkiye's latest deal with the UK. Opposition leader Yair Lapid lashed out at Prime Minister Netanyahu this week, blaming him for failing to block the Eurofighter sale. The aircraft, developed jointly by the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, are considered among the most advanced fourth-plus-generation fighter jets in the world.

Guests:
Afzal Ashraf
Loughborough University Visiting Fellow

Mehmet Ozkan
Turkish National Defence University Professor

Zoltan Egeresi
John Lukacs Institute for Strategy and Politics Research Fellow