Israel must stop Erdogan’s military expansion before Turkey reaches its borders - opinion

Israel must take decisive action against Turkey's military expansion before it threatens to reach Israel's borders, according to a senior Israeli intelligence official. This warning aligns with the findings of the 2025 Nagel Commission report, which highlighted Turkey's quest for Islamist-jihadist regional hegemony and its potential to launch direct confrontations with Israel, Syria, and its aligned proxies.

The report suggested that the Israeli air strike on a Syrian base near Idlib was a strong message to Turkey's leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to back off from encroaching on Israel's northern and maritime borders.

Erdogan, an antisemitic leader, aims to unite a Sunni alliance of nations against Israel and maintain NATO membership. He has even drafted a constitution for an Islamic confederation to replace NATO. Despite his alignment with Russia, China, and Iran, as well as his involvement in Syria's internal affairs and the occupation of northern Cyprus and northern Syria, Turkey's military buildup is a significant concern for Israel.

The Turkish Navy is equipped with a larger fleet compared to Israel's, and the country is actively expanding its naval capabilities.

The Nagel Commission recommended a priority expenditure on Israel's navy to counter this threat. At the same time, a "reciprocity standard" should be applied to Turkey's contracts and human rights practices, given the authoritarian and imperialistic policies of its government. Western leaders should take a strong stance against Erdogan's aggressive foreign and military policies, rather than shielding Israel for its necessary defensive actions.

The past three years of attacks on Israel have highlighted the importance of maintaining a proactive defense posture, as containment policies have proven ineffective against growing threats from adversaries near and far.