US Reportedly Considering F-35 Sale to Turkey, Potentially Angering Israel

JERUSALEM (CNA Jerusalem, July 8) - Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth will discuss the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu today. This move could deeply displease Israeli officials.

Sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters that Hegseth (Peter Hegseth) is also expected to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Katz (Israel Katz) to discuss issues related to Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu (Netanyahu) stated in an interview with CNN yesterday that he opposes the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, has clearly expressed his opposition to U.S. President Trump (Donald Trump), and pointed out that "this move would disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East, as Turkey harbors expansionist ambitions."

Turkey, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has long criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, and has repeatedly accused Israel of attempting to undermine a U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement mediated by Pakistan.

Trump, who is attending the NATO summit in Turkey, announced yesterday that he would lift sanctions imposed in 2019 due to Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system, and expressed his intention to sell F-35s to the NATO ally. This move is expected to provoke strong backlash from the U.S. Congress and Israel.

Bilateral relations between the U.S. and Turkey rapidly deteriorated after Turkey's procurement of the S-400, leading to U.S. sanctions on a major Turkish defense company and Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program.

Relations between the U.S. and Turkey have noticeably improved since Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, but the F-35 arms sale remains blocked by U.S. law. (Intern Editor: Zhuo You'an / Editor: Xu Chongzhe). 0708

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