Pentagon Chief Hegseth to Consult Netanyahu on Proposed F-35 Aircraft Sale to Turkiye

JERUSALEM: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is scheduled to discuss a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkiye with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The proposed transfer is likely to provoke strong objections from Israeli officials.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the delicate nature of the negotiations, added that Hegseth is also set to meet Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, with Iran expected to feature prominently in their discussions.

During a CNN interview on Tuesday, Netanyahu reaffirmed his opposition to supplying F-35s to Turkiye, noting he had explicitly conveyed his stance to Trump. “It would destroy the power balance in the Middle East because Turkiye has aggressive aspirations,” he said. A NATO member, Turkiye has long criticised Israeli operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and has repeatedly accused Israel of seeking to undermine the US-Iran ceasefire accord mediated by Pakistan.

President Donald Trump, attending a NATO summit in Turkiye, declared on Tuesday the removal of US sanctions imposed on Ankara over its 2019 acquisition of Russian air defence missiles. He further indicated willingness to approve the sale of the stealth fighters to the NATO ally—a step anticipated to face considerable pushback in Congress and from Israel alike.

Diplomatic relations soured sharply after Turkiye procured the Russian S-400 system, leading the US to sanction a major Turkish defence company and expel Ankara from the F-35 programme. Although ties have markedly improved since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, the aircraft sale remains barred under US law.

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