Trump on Erdogan and selling fighter jets to Turkey

United States President Donald Trump dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s objections to a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, declaring aboard Air Force One that no outside nation dictates U.S. arms deals. The remarks come ahead of high-stakes White House and NATO summit meetings.

Trump Brushes Aside Netanyahu’s Objections Aboard Air Force One

U.S. President Donald Trump has made it clear that outside opposition will not dictate American defense policy. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from Washington to Michigan, Trump dismissed public criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a potential military sale to Ankara.

When asked about the prospective fighter jet deal and Netanyahu’s objections, Trump delivered a blunt response reported by AA.

“Nobody tells me what we should be selling.”

President Donald Trump, United States

Regional Power Balances and Israeli Security Concerns

The friction stems from deep-seated geopolitical rivalries in the Middle East. Appearing on television ahead of the diplomatic schedule, Netanyahu argued that providing advanced aircraft or jet engines to Ankara would disrupt regional stability.

“I don’t think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets because that’ll upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also by America’s posture in the Middle East.”

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel

Beyond military hardware, Netanyahu criticized Turkish leadership and foreign policy. The Israeli leader pointed to Ankara’s stances on regional conflicts, territorial disputes involving Cyprus and Greece, and ties to groups like Hamas, warning that the Turkish government maintains hostile rhetoric toward Israel.

Despite these warnings, Trump emphasized that Washington’s bilateral partnership with Ankara remains strong, describing the NATO member as a critical component of regional defense.

Alliance History and the S-400 Stumbling Block

The path back to the F-35 program is complicated by past policy decisions. Türkiye was suspended from the multinational fighter jet program during Trump’s first term after acquiring the Russian S-400 missile defense system.

Washington previously argued that the Russian system could compromise sensitive technical data regarding the stealth capabilities of the F-35. Ankara, however, maintained that no security conflict existed and proposed a joint commission to study the issue.

Over the years, the dispute catalyzed a significant expansion of domestic defense manufacturing in Türkiye. Rather than depending entirely on foreign suppliers, the country developed indigenous systems including armed drones, missiles, armored vehicles, and its own fifth-generation fighter jet project, the KAAN.

Praise for Erdoğan and the NATO Summit Context

Trump offered high praise for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, describing him as a friend who has managed difficult regional issues effectively.

Photo: Turkiyetoday

“Türkiye has been a great ally to me. He, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is my friend. No one can tell me who we should or should not sell to. Türkiye is a great ally of ours.”

President Donald Trump, United States

Trump also highlighted the scale of the Turkish military, calling it a powerful nation with a magnificent military apparatus and strong equipment inventories. Discussions over jet engines and potential readmission to the F-35 framework gained momentum following a formal notification to Congress regarding a $700 million jet engine sale.

Diplomatic Meetings at the White House

The public war of words precedes a packed diplomatic calendar in Washington. Trump is scheduled to host both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for separate meetings at the White House.

Photo: Dailysabah

While Netanyahu hopes to discuss ongoing Middle Eastern security issues and implementation of regional peace agreements, the underlying tension over American arms sales to Ankara highlights the difficult balancing act facing U.S. foreign policy in the region.