Palm Beach, United States: President Donald Trump indicated Monday that the United States is actively considering selling advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkiye, a move that has drawn sharp opposition from Israeli officials. The comments came during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Trump’s Florida club.

“We’re thinking about it very seriously,” Trump said when asked about the potential F-35 deal with Turkiye.

The prospect marks a major shift from past US policy. In 2019, Turkiye was removed from the F-35 program, which develops the latest stealth fighters, after purchasing Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, a move that alarmed NATO allies and raised concerns about sensitive technology falling into Russian hands.

Despite previous tensions, Trump maintains a cordial relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Analysts note that this rapport may be influencing the president’s consideration of Turkiye for advanced arms sales, even as Erdogan has criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Israeli officials have expressed strong opposition to selling F-35s to Turkiye, arguing that the jets could enhance Ankara’s military capabilities in regional conflicts. Tensions between Israel and Turkiye remain high over issues such as the ongoing war in Syria, which shares borders with both nations.

When asked about the possibility of conflict between Israel and Turkiye, Trump described Erdogan as “a very good friend” and reassured that no confrontation was expected. “We’re not going to have a problem. Nothing’s going to happen,” he said.

Trump has previously pursued F-35 sales in the Middle East under controversial circumstances. During his first term, he approved a sale to the United Arab Emirates following its formal recognition of Israel. More recently, he expressed support for potential F-35 sales to Saudi Arabia, despite longstanding US policy ensuring Israel maintains a military edge over neighboring states.

Experts suggest that reopening F-35 sales to Turkiye could signal a broader realignment of US defense priorities in the region. “Selling F-35s to Ankara would require careful consideration of regional balance and intelligence security,” said a former Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The unfolding discussions are likely to be closely monitored by Washington’s allies, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, as they navigate the complex intersection of diplomacy, defense, and regional security.