Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly requested that US President Donald Trump intervene to block the sale of American-made military equipment to Turkey, according to reports citing US and Israeli officials.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the request was made during a recent telephone conversation between the two leaders, as highlighted by the N12 news portal.
According to the reports, Netanyahu expressed significant concern regarding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent rhetoric and policies toward Israel. The Israeli Prime Minister argued that the acquisition of advanced US military technology, specifically F-35 fighter jets, would substantially enhance Turkey's military capabilities, which Israel views as a potential risk to its national security.
Sources familiar with the discussion indicated that US President Donald Trump listened to Netanyahu's concerns, and it has not been ruled out that the US administration may convey specific messages to Ankara regarding these matters.
This diplomatic maneuver occurs against the backdrop of long-standing political tensions between Israel and Turkey. Netanyahu has previously voiced his dissatisfaction with President Erdogan's public statements concerning Israel, signaling that he would raise these concerns with key allies in Washington.
The relationship between the two nations has been strained for some time. Notably, in May of this year, President Erdogan delivered a speech during the Eid al-Adha holiday in which he sharply criticized the policies of the Israeli government and called for greater unity among the Muslim world in response to the situation in the region.
The F-35 program, a cornerstone of NATO's air defense strategy, has historically been a point of contention in US-Turkey relations. Turkey's previous involvement in the program was suspended following its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, making any potential future sales a complex issue involving both regional security dynamics and broader geopolitical alliances.
