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Turkiye, which has historically relied on US-made fighter jets, had been for some time working on a deal to acquire Eurofighter Typhoon jets as part of its long-term goal to modernize and expand its air force. This week, those efforts finally bore fruit. Turkiye has reached preliminary agreements with both the UK and Germany for the potential purchase of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. British Defense Secretary John Healey heralded the agreements as bringing Turkiye “one step closer to a fully comprehensive agreement” that would bolster the air capabilities of both Ankara and NATO.

The signing of these deals has raised deep concerns in Israel, as opposition parties have criticized the Israeli government for failing to prevent the deal from moving forward. Some analysts and policymakers in Washington have also voiced discomfort with the deal, saying that it contradicts the German government’s previous decision to block the sale based on Turkiye’s support for some groups that threaten Western strategic interests. The Eurofighter Typhoon, produced by a consortium comprising the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, had long been out of Turkiye’s reach. The deal had stalled for years, primarily due to Germany’s persistent concerns regarding Turkiye’s foreign policy.

Therefore, the recent development is far more than a simple military procurement transaction; it reflects a broader recalibration of European priorities at a time NATO recalibrates its approach in the face of potential future threats from Russia. So, it is not only about modernizing Turkiye’s air force, but also about establishing Turkiye as a more deeply integrated player within Europe’s evolving defense framework. The move can also be interpreted as a message to the US that Washington must reconsider its position on excluding Turkiye from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program, from which Ankara was expelled in 2019 after its acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system.

From Turkiye’s point of view, Ankara is clearly preparing for a long game. Turkiye is still exploring avenues to rejoin the US-led F-35 program, but the signing of these deals will accelerate Turkiye’s arms buildup in a way that could eventually challenge Israel’s military edge in the region. Israel’s recent military actions, including its 12-day confrontation with Iran, Turkiye’s immediate neighbor, and airstrikes in the Syrian Arab Republic, have deeply concerned Turkish policymakers. According to several senior Turkish officials and commentators, there is now a belief that Turkiye could be the next regional target of Israeli military assertiveness. The broader perception in Ankara is that Israel is pursuing a destabilizing military policy in the region, and Turkiye must prepare accordingly.

Moreover, Ankara has made clear that it will oppose any future NATO military collaboration with Israel until it ends its assault on Gaza. Turkiye, as a NATO member, holds veto power over alliance decisions — a powerful tool it has exercised in the past. For instance, Turkiye previously blocked Israel’s bid for observer status within NATO, a decision it only reversed temporarily during a short-lived reconciliation era in 2023.

Now, Turkish leaders are openly signaling their position to use that veto power again to isolate Israel within NATO’s framework.

The perception in Ankara is that Israel is pursuing a destabilizing policy in the region, and Turkiye must prepare accordingly.

Dr. Sinem Cengiz

This stance aligns Turkiye with a growing number of Western countries that are increasingly frustrated by Israel’s war in Gaza and its destabilizing policies across the region. Just a day before the Eurofighter deal was made public, the UK issued a warning that it could take further measures against Israel if it refused to bring the conflict in Gaza to a close. This came after several European countries condemned Israel for restricting humanitarian aid deliveries and for allegedly killing hundreds of Palestinians at designated food distribution sites. In May, the UK announced the suspension of free trade negotiations with Israel. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently said he was “sickened” by the suffering in Gaza, although he did not specify what concrete actions might follow.

European capitals have also been reassessing their diplomatic and trade ties with Israel over Gaza. An internal report recently found indications that Israel has violated its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a 25-year-old legal framework governing the political relationship and trade cooperation between the two sides. But so far the EU has taken no action to suspend such ties. Full or partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement requires a unanimous agreement by all 27 members of the EU. Although such unity is hard to achieve, the talks over this signals shifting sentiment within EU corridors.

Thus, the Eurofighter deal with Turkiye is a test of European priorities and the cost of their support for Israel. Germany, which has long maintained its backing for Israel, has recently sharpened its tone, signaling greater discomfort with the war in Gaza. European capitals are reassessing their long-term approach as the political cost of unconditional support for Israel rises. The unfolding humanitarian catastrophe has shifted public opinion and forced many Western governments to reevaluate their approach toward Israel.

Amid this, diplomats from Germany, France, and the UK met with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Istanbul on Friday to try to restart negotiations on Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

Israel’s war in Gaza, coupled with its operations in Syria and Iran, is generating rising discomfort in European capitals. Given that Turkiye is hosting these critical talks between the West and Iran, and having signed the Eurofighter deals, it is becoming evident that the waning of Israel’s exceptionalism in Western strategic calculations is to Ankara’s benefit.

• Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz