Trump rebuffs Netanyahu over F-35 sale, calls Turkey key ally

US President Donald Trump has asserted that the decision to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey rests solely with Washington, emphasizing that no one can dictate US arms sales. His remarks came in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to the deal.

Speaking to reporters on Monday aboard Air Force One en route from Washington to Michigan, Trump was asked about Netanyahu’s objection to the sale of F-35 jets to Turkey. He replied, "No one can tell me to whom we sell or do not sell. Turkey is a major ally of ours."

The US president added, "Turkey is a wonderful ally to me. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is my friend," noting that tensions between Turkey and Israel are well known.

Trump described his visit to Ankara for the NATO summit as "extremely successful," adding, "Turkey is a great and very strong country. They have a wonderful military, a large and very powerful army, and they possess a lot of excellent equipment."

Last Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his opposition to a possible US approval of F-35 sales to Turkey, warning that such a move would affect the balance of power in the Middle East. His comments followed Trump’s announcement that he was considering lifting the ban on the deal.

In an interview with CNN, Netanyahu said he had directly informed Trump of his rejection of the proposal, adding that "selling the latest American fighter jets does not make Turkey a friend of the United States," as he put it.