Newsletters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on U.S. President Donald Trump to halt the sale of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) fighter jet and General Electric (GE) F100 engine to Türkiye on the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, warning that the deal could "upset" the regional balance of power.
Netanyahu made the remarks in an interview with Fox News, citing statements by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan about Israel's actions in Gaza.
"If they are given these (F-35s and jet engines), the balance of power in the Middle East will be disrupted," Netanyahu said.
He argued that "Israel's air superiority" must be preserved.
Netanyahu made the remarks as Trump was preparing to travel to Ankara for the NATO summit, where his bilateral meeting with Erdogan is expected to include a discussion of potential defense transfers to Türkiye.
Netanyahu also addressed the funeral of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, claiming that 80% of Iran's population hates the Tehran government and that only a few million took to the streets for the ceremony.
"They are not America's friends," Netanyahu said of those at the funeral who chanted against the United States.
He argued that the countries of the region sent representatives to Khamenei's funeral, while pointing to Israel, which participated in strikes on Iran, as the true U.S. ally in the region.
Netanyahu said he and Trump agreed on "almost every issue" and indicated that a visit to Washington was being discussed, but said there was no firm timeline.
He said the agenda for any such visit would include advancing the Abraham Accords and Lebanon negotiations.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
