US President Donald Trump has ignored Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. Trump described Turkey as a ‘tremendous ally’ and said that no outside leader decides on US arms sales.
US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to the possible sale of American F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. He clearly said that no outside leader influences American arms sales.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump dismissed Netanyahu’s objections to arming Ankara and described Turkey as a “tremendous ally.” “No one tells me what to sell. Türkiye has been a tremendous ally to me,” Trump said. The US President’s comments come as Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday (local time) for high-level talks with Trump, with regional security and the confrontation with Iran high on the bilateral agenda.
Israel strongly opposed the sale
Earlier this month, Netanyahu expressed strong opposition to the possible sale of US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, CNN reported. He warned that such a move would change the regional balance of power.
In an interview with CNN, Netanyahu said he personally urged US President Donald Trump not to approve the sale, after Trump indicated he was considering reversing sanctions imposed during his first term. “The sale of America’s most advanced fighter aircraft ‘does not make Turkey an ally of the United States,'” Netanyahu told CNN.
Referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said Ankara is “a system that is infected with the Muslim Brotherhood, that hates the United States.” “He is no ideal ally of the United States. He threatens to destroy my country, the only Jewish state,” Netanyahu said, CNN reported. Netanyahu further warned that supplying aircraft to Türkiye would have wider regional consequences. Netanyahu said he urged Trump not to sell fighter jets directly to Turkey because doing so would “destroy the balance of power in the Middle East.”
Trump calls Turkey ‘more loyal’
The statement came after Trump said his administration would soon decide whether to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey despite the congressional ban. He also announced that the sanctions imposed by Ankara on the purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system will be lifted.
“We have a great relationship with Turkey, and Turkey in many ways has been much more loyal than other countries that we consider loyal,” Trump said. He argued that many believe Turkey should be allowed to purchase the F-35 despite its acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 system.
Describing the F-35 as “the best plane ever built,” Trump said the proposed sale was “certainly something we would consider.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that Ankara believes it is close to a deal to purchase US-made F-35 fighter jets and US-made engines for Turkey’s indigenous KAAN fighter aircraft, CNN reported. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)