Washington: US President Donald Trump has dismissed Israeli objections to the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, saying no one has the authority to dictate what the United States should sell to its allies.
According to US media reports, Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. Responding to concerns raised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US president said, “No one can tell me what we should sell.”
Trump described Türkiye as a strong and longstanding ally of the United States. He praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying he had done “a very good job” in Syria.
The US president acknowledged that Türkiye and Israel have significant political differences and that Ankara does not have a favourable relationship with the Israeli government. However, he emphasised that Türkiye remains an important strategic partner for Washington.
“Türkiye is a great and powerful country,” Trump said, adding that it possesses a large and capable military and continues to be an excellent ally of the United States.
Earlier this month, during the NATO Summit in Türkiye, Trump also announced that his administration was working to lift sanctions imposed on Türkiye and said his government would consider allowing Ankara to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet programme.
Israel has repeatedly voiced opposition to any move that would provide Türkiye with the fifth-generation stealth aircraft. Israeli officials argue that supplying the advanced fighter jets could alter the regional military balance and affect Israel’s qualitative military edge.
In a recent statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Erdoğan government has adopted a firm stance against Israel and warned that delivering F-35 aircraft to Türkiye could have significant security implications for the region.
Türkiye was originally a partner in the multinational F-35 programme, but in 2019, during Trump’s first term as president, the United States removed Ankara from the programme after it purchased the Russian-made S-400 air defence system. Washington argued that operating the S-400 alongside the F-35 could compromise the stealth aircraft’s sensitive technology.
Since then, Türkiye has repeatedly sought to restore defence cooperation with the United States, including renewed discussions about purchasing F-35 aircraft. The issue remains a significant point in US–Türkiye defence relations.
As of now, the United States has not announced a final decision on whether F-35 sales to Türkiye will resume. Trump’s latest remarks reflect his position on the matter, while any future transfer of the aircraft would remain subject to US government procedures, legal requirements, and policy decisions.
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