According to a video published by Fox News on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, retired General Jack Keane strongly criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a discussion about a possible United States defense agreement that could allow Turkey to acquire F-35 fighter jets.
Keane’s remarks came amid reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had personally urged President Donald Trump to delay approving the proposed fighter jet sale. The retired four-star general suggested that the disagreement reflects broader tensions between Washington and Ankara over Middle East policy, describing the differences as increasingly significant in recent years.
During the discussion, Keane accused Erdogan of pursuing policies that conflict with the interests of both the United States and Israel. He argued that the Turkish president has opposed the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements that Keane described as one of the major foreign policy achievements of the Trump administration.
In his words, General Jack Keane said, “the fact of the matter is that Erdogan is a Muslim Brotherhood, he is pro Hamas and anti Israel, calling for the destruction of the state of Israel, he does not agree with Abraham Accords, which is an achievement of the Trump administration, he is exercising domination and control over Syria.”
Keane also claimed that Erdogan has been expanding Turkey’s influence in Syria while strengthening ties with countries including Pakistan, Egypt, Azerbaijan, and Saudi Arabia. According to him, these relationships are forming an informal regional bloc aimed at reducing American influence across the Middle East.
Despite his criticism, Keane acknowledged that Erdogan maintains a positive personal relationship with President Trump and continues to lead a NATO member state. He argued that this combination of strategic disagreements and diplomatic ties complicates the debate over whether Turkey should be permitted to purchase advanced American military aircraft.
According to Keane, approving the sale of F-35 fighter jets would require careful consideration because he believes Erdogan’s broader regional ambitions are inconsistent with key American and Israeli security priorities.
The comments were made as world leaders gathered in Turkey for the NATO summit, where defense cooperation, military partnerships, and alliance unity were expected to feature prominently in discussions between officials from Washington and Ankara. The proposed F-35 deal remained one of the issues attracting attention during the high-level meetings…See More
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