Trump Dismisses Netanyahu’s Opposition to F-35 Sales to Turkey

Netanyahu arrived in Washington Monday with regional security and the Iranian threat dominating his agenda, yet his attempt to pivot the conversation to the F-35 deal met immediate resistance. In a recent interview, the Israeli leader argued that selling the advanced aircraft to Turkey would destabilize the Middle East. He further characterized the current Turkish administration as hostile, citing rhetoric from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and alleging that the government in Ankara harbors deep-seated anti-American sentiment.

Trump remained unmoved by these concerns, noting that while Turkey may not align with Israeli interests, the nation has been effective in its partnership with the United States. The administration is currently weighing whether to bypass a congressional ban to finalize the sale, a move that would coincide with the lifting of sanctions previously imposed over Turkey’s procurement of the Russian S-400 defense system. As Ankara pushes to secure both the F-35s and American-made engines for its indigenous KAAN fighter program, the disagreement underscores a widening rift between Washington’s two Middle Eastern partners.