The F-35 dilemma: Preserving Israel’s QME in a changing Middle East

The potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, following positive remarks from President Trump at the NATO Leaders Summit, has brought Israel's Qualitative Military Edge (QME) into focus. Israel, citing U.S. domestic law and a need to preserve the regional military balance, has historically opposed such sales to various Middle Eastern countries, including Türkiye, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that selling F-35s to Türkiye "would destroy the power balance in the Middle East because Türkiye has aggressive aspirations."

• Türkiye, an original partner in the F-35 program, was removed in 2019 after acquiring Russia's S-400 air defense system, triggering CAATSA sanctions.
• While Israel's QME has been a cornerstone of its security, the Abraham Accords and broader regional rapprochement have challenged the traditional justification of Arab states as a major threat.
• The U.S. has a legal obligation to preserve Israel's QME, a concept codified into law in 2018, allowing Israel to potentially block F-35 sales to regional countries.
• Experts suggest that providing F-35A variants, which lack the unique capabilities of Israel's F-35I, could preserve Israel's QME while strengthening collective defense against common threats like Iran.