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Netanyahu Secretly Asks Trump to Curb Erdoğan Ahead of NATO Summit
🇩🇿 Algeria /Elections & Politics

Netanyahu Secretly Asks Trump to Curb Erdoğan Ahead of NATO Summit

From El Watan · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to curb Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and halt significant arms sales to Ankara.
  • The request, made before an upcoming NATO summit in Turkey, comes amid concerns over Turkey's increasingly hostile rhetoric towards Israel and its military buildup.
  • Netanyahu specifically sought to block sales of fighter jet engines and Turkey's potential re-entry into the F-35 program, facing bipartisan opposition in the U.S. Congress.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has privately urged U.S. President Donald Trump to rein in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and freeze major arms sales to Ankara. The appeal, made just before a NATO summit in Turkey, signals Israel's growing unease with Ankara's escalating anti-Israel rhetoric and military advancements.

Sources indicate Netanyahu contacted Trump last Friday, expressing dismay over Erdoğan's increasingly hostile statements and explicitly requesting the U.S. refrain from selling equipment that could modernize Turkey's air force. A White House official suggested Trump might convey a message to Erdoğan to "ease up a bit," though the final decision rests with Washington. The U.S. is reportedly considering selling fighter jets to Turkey, but any deal must comply with American law. However, a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. Congress opposes F-35 deliveries as long as Turkey retains its Russian S-400 defense systems.

lift a little bit of the foot

— US OfficialSummarizing the White House's response to Netanyahu's request regarding Turkey's actions.

The Israeli government views Turkey's military growth as a direct threat, exacerbated by Erdoğan's recent characterizations of Zionism as a genocidal ideology and his accusations against Israel regarding Cyprus and Jerusalem. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has reciprocated, calling the Israeli government an unbearable burden and advocating for international sanctions.

Trump's receptiveness to Israel's request remains uncertain, given his established personal ties with Erdoğan. The situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics and the delicate balance of U.S. foreign policy in the region.

the Israeli government is a burden that humanity can no longer bear

— Hakan FidanTurkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's statement criticizing the Israeli government.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Watan in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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