Israel claims it has a use-of-technology veto right that can shut the door on Turkey’s bid to acquire F-35 stealth strike fighter jets from the United States.

"We have our reservations [on a possible sale by the US of the world’s most advanced fighter plane, the F-35, to Turkey]. A lot of the technology inside the airplane is technology produced by Israel. And obviously this is not something that we will share with them," Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel told Greek newspaper Kathimerini on January 6.

Haskel was also reported as saying that Israel is "concerned" about US President Donald Trump saying that he is "very seriously considering" an agreement to sell Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) F-35s to Turkey, a Nato member.

Israeli technology will not be part of the sale agreement "even if they do get those airplanes", she added.

It was in 2019 that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan went against the wishes of the first Trump presidential administration by acquiring S-400 missile defence systems from the Kremlin. Stating that S-400 technology could potentially compromise the performance metrics of the F-35, the US kicked Turkey out of the F-35 development and procurement programme, a move that also came as a blow to Turkish defence factories given contracts to make components for the plane.

Israel has partly used its F-35 fleet to achieve clear air superiority across the Middle East. Other regional rivals to Turkey, including Greece and Saudi Arabia, have, meanwhile, struck deals to acquire F-35s from the US. Turkey’s air force fleet is at risk of falling behind significantly in terms of capabilities.

In written comments provided to Bloomberg on January 5, Erdogan called for Turkey to be allowed to re-enter the F-35 programme, saying it would help strengthen ties with Washington and boost Nato security.

"Türkiye's receipt of the F-35 aircraft for which it has already paid, and its reintegration into the programme, are important and necessary," Erdogan said.

Erdogan said he made his F-35 pitch personally to Trump during their White House meeting in September, saying the decision to expel Turkey from the F-35 programme was "unjust."

"With Trump's return to office, an opportunity has emerged to move Türkiye–U.S. relations onto a more reasonable and constructive footing," he added.