Trump considers F-35 sale to Turkiye; Netanyahu lobbies against
Trump also said U.S. sanctions on Turkiye would be lifted, a move that could reopen Ankara’s access to the F-35 program.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkiye after meeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on Tuesday (7/7). Trump also said U.S. sanctions on Turkiye would be lifted. The remarks drew opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he had lobbied Trump to keep Ankara from getting F-35s or their jet engines. Netanyahu said a sale would disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East and erode Israel’s air superiority. Turkiye was previously removed from the F-35 program after buying Russian-made S-400 missile systems, which triggered U.S. CAATSA sanctions.