Netanyahu had urged Washington not to sell the advanced stealth aircraft to Türkiye, arguing that such a move could alter the military balance of power in the Middle East.
The Israeli leader accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of undermining regional security, particularly because Türkiye has been one of the strongest critics of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
Speaking during the NATO Summit in Türkiye on Tuesday, Trump said he was open to selling the F-35s to Ankara and saw no problem with the proposal.
“I have no concerns about that. He is a leader who has made his country better, stronger, and more powerful,” Trump said, referring to President Erdoğan.
Earlier, Netanyahu had appealed to Washington not to allow Türkiye to acquire the F-35 fighter jets.
“I don’t think they should receive the F-35 or engines for their fighter aircraft because it would change the balance of power in the Middle East, where regional security depends on Israel’s air superiority and America’s role in the region,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu acknowledged that Türkiye is a powerful country but argued that it is led by a president who has openly questioned Israel’s right to exist.
According to Axios, Netanyahu privately raised the issue with Trump, urging him not to approve the sale, and reiterated his concerns during a phone conversation with the U.S. president last week.
The United States removed Türkiye from the F-35 program in 2019 after President Erdoğan refused to cancel Ankara’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system.
Last year, Türkiye confirmed that it wanted to rejoin the F-35 program while also maintaining its Russian-made S-400 missile defense system.
Relations between Erdoğan and Netanyahu have remained deeply strained for years. The Turkish president has repeatedly criticized Netanyahu and has even compared him to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
Tensions between Trump and Netanyahu have also grown in recent months, particularly after Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon raised concerns that they could undermine ongoing peace negotiations with Iran.
Trump acknowledged that he spoke firmly with Netanyahu during a recent phone call, urging him to halt Israel’s military strikes.
