Donald Trump has made clear that Benjamin Netanyahu will have no say over whether the US sells F-35 fighter jets to Israel‘s top regional rival, a day before the two men are due to meet in the Oval Office.
Aboard Air Force One, the President fielded questions on Israel’s opposition to selling advanced fighter jets to Turkey, its longtime rival.
‘Turkey has been a great ally, for me,’ Trump added. ‘Nobody tells me what we should be selling or not. Turkey has been a tremendous ally.’
Trump also claimed Israel ‘wouldn’t survive’ without support from the US: ‘Israel would have been terminated months ago, and years ago, if I didn’t terminate the Obama horrible [Iran] deal.’
Later Trump noted: ‘Turkey is not a big fan of Israel, you know that, right? And not a big fan of Bibi.’
Relations between Turkey and Israel have collapsed over the past two years, with Netanyahu describing Turkish President Erdogan‘s government as a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Israel objects to the sale of F-35 aircrafts because they claim it would upset a balance of power in the region.
Despite Trump’s apparent enthusiasm for the sale, US law still prevents it. Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after buying the Russian S-400 air defense system, and Congress passed legislation later that year barring any sale.
Donald Trump has made clear that Benjamin Netanyahu will have no say over whether the US sells F-35 fighter jets to Israel’s top regional rival, a day before the two men are due to meet in the Oval Office
Aboard Air Force One, the President fielded questions on Israel’s opposition to selling advanced fighter jets to Turkey, its longtime rival
Relations between the Turkey and Israel have collapsed over the past two years, with Netanyahu describing Turkish President Erdogan’s government as a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood
Last week, the State Department formally notified Congress that Turkey has not met the legal conditions required under American law for any possible transfer of F-35 aircraft.
Trump also said during his visit to Ankara this month that sanctions imposed on Turkey during his first term would be lifted, telling reporters that America does not sanction its friends.
Any reversal would still require Congress to act, and the ban enjoys support on both sides of the aisle.
Speaking to Fox News earlier this month, the Israeli prime minister said Ankara should not receive the stealth jets or the engines for its fighter programme, warning the move would ‘upset the balance of power in the Middle East.’
He branded Turkey a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood and accused Erdogan of openly calling for Israel’s annihilation.
Netanyahu will meet privately with Trump at the White House after the Israeli prime minister arrives in Washington for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham.
Netanyahu has been Trump’s most important partner abroad since the two governments launched their joint campaign against Iran in February.
That alliance has frayed in recent months as Trump has signaled frustration at what he sees as Israeli efforts to prolong the war and undermine a settlement with Tehran.
Turkey, meanwhile, declined to join the US and Israeli campaign against Iran launched in late February, choosing instead to cast itself as a mediator.
Turkish officials spent the spring passing messages between Washington and Tehran to push both sides toward direct talks.
Erdogan’s government has also worked alongside Egypt and Pakistan in contacts with White House envoy Steve Witkoff.
Erdogan told Trump in a call in May that he welcomed the extension of the ceasefire and believed the outstanding disputes could be settled.
Trump afterwards described the conversation as very good and the relationship between them as strong.
