US President Donald Trump publicly pushed back against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s objections regarding a potential sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump asserted that arms sales remain exclusively a Washington decision while praising Turkey as a “tremendous ally”.
Key Highlights of the Exchange
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Trump’s Stance: Speaking en route to Washington, Trump firmly dismissed foreign influence over US defense exports. Calling Turkey a “very powerful country” with a “tremendous military,” he acknowledged that while Ankara is “not a big fan” of Israel or Netanyahu, it has been “great for me”.
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Netanyahu’s Objections: In a CNN interview ahead of high-level bilateral talks in Washington, Netanyahu warned that supplying advanced F-35 jets to Ankara would “destroy the power balance in the Middle East”. He characterized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a non-model ally whose regime is “infected with the Muslim Brotherhood”.
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Proposed Sale Details: The Trump administration indicated it is considering lifting restrictions and sanctions previously imposed on Ankara over its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system. Turkey is currently seeking to finalize a deal for F-35 fighter jets alongside US-made engines for its indigenous KAAN fighter aircraft.
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High-Stakes Bilateral Meeting: The remarks come as Netanyahu arrived in Washington for critical discussions centered on Middle East security, regional defense dynamics, and ongoing developments regarding Iran.
