Trump Defends F-35 Sale to Turkey Amid Netanyahu's Concerns

Trump's Stance on Turkey's F-35 Acquisition

President Donald Trump has brushed aside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's concerns regarding the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. He emphasized that no foreign leader would dictate the terms of American military sales. While traveling on Air Force One to Michigan, Trump expressed his support for Turkey and its leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ahead of a meeting with Netanyahu scheduled at the White House. "Turkey has been a strong ally for me," Trump stated. He added, "I believe he has managed Syria well and is a personal friend of mine."

Netanyahu has urged the U.S. to refrain from selling F-35 jets or their engines to Turkey, claiming it would jeopardize Israel's military superiority and disrupt the regional power dynamics. Trump is set to hold separate discussions with both Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Tuesday, as confirmed by a White House official.

The discussions between Trump and Netanyahu are anticipated to cover the ongoing conflict with Iran, advancements in talks with Lebanon, and the expansion of the Abraham Accords. Trump acknowledged some differences with Netanyahu regarding Iran but noted they are generally aligned. His meeting with Zelenskyy will likely focus on strategies to conclude the war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump dismissed Zelenskyy's claims that Russia was sharing intelligence with Iran about U.S. military installations, stating, "I don't believe that's happening, especially not at a significant level."

Both Netanyahu and Zelenskyy are expected to attend the funeral of the late Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington on Tuesday. Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program after it acquired Russia's S-400 air defense system. However, Trump has hinted at the possibility of reconsidering Turkey's involvement. During a meeting with Erdogan on July 7, he mentioned that the U.S. would "certainly consider" a sale, although any agreement would face legal hurdles and likely opposition from Congress. Trump also commended Turkey's military strength while recognizing the existing tensions between Ankara and Israel. "Turkey is not particularly fond of Israel, as you know," he remarked. "But Turkey is a powerful nation with a significant military and excellent equipment." Despite his disagreement with Netanyahu on the F-35 issue, Trump praised the Israeli leader's approach to the Iran conflict, stating, "Bibi has been exceptional. He was a wartime prime minister, and we worked well together. If you look at Iran now, they are only 8% of what they were four months ago. We will see how this unfolds."