U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to travel to Israel on Wednesday, July 8, for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the Trump administration weighs plans to restore Turkey’s access to the F-35 fighter jet program.
The visit comes after President Donald Trump signaled during the NATO summit in Turkey that he is open to allowing Ankara to obtain the advanced stealth aircraft again, a move that has drawn concern from Israeli officials and some Republicans in Washington.
According to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, Hegseth’s meeting with Netanyahu is also expected to focus on the recent Iran attack on commercial ships and U.S. strikes against Iranian military targets, and regional security.
Hegseth’s Visit Comes as Trump Reopens F-35 Talks With Turkey
Trump discussed the F-35 sale issue during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Tuesday, praising Turkey’s relationship with the United States and suggesting that sanctions imposed on Ankara could soon be lifted.
“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off,” Trump told reporters. “It’s time to do that. Okay? We don’t want to sanction friends. It’s very simple.”
Trump also indicated his administration would consider allowing Turkey back into the F-35 program after the country was removed in 2019 during his first administration.
Turkey was kicked out of the fighter jet program after it bought Russia’s S-400 air defense system, which led the United States to suspend Turkey’s participation in the program and then impose sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.
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During Tuesday’s meeting, Trump defended Turkey’s importance to the United States.
“We should help Turkey,” Trump said, describing the NATO ally as a country that has “been more helpful to the United States than many other more traditional countries.”
Erdoğan also said Trump had promised Turkey five F-35 fighter jets.
“As you know, the topic of the F-35 is not new for us,” Erdoğan said. “We have secured the five jets, and Mr. Trump also promised us.”
The White House did not clarify Erdoğan’s claim and instead referred reporters to Trump’s earlier remarks.
Netanyahu Has Opposed Selling F-35 Jets to Turkey
The proposed restoration of Turkey’s access to the aircraft has created a sensitive issue ahead of Hegseth’s visit to Jerusalem.
Netanyahu has previously urged Trump not to approve the sale, arguing that providing the fifth-generation fighter jets to Turkey could alter the military balance in the Middle East.
Other prominent Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence, have also urged Trump to abandon the proposal.
Concerns have centered on Turkey’s previous acquisition of Russian military equipment and the potential impact on Israel’s longstanding qualitative military edge in the region.
Regional Security Also Expected to Dominate Discussions
Hegseth‘s trip follows a sharp escalation between the United States and Iran after Tehran carried out attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The attacks came less than three weeks after both countries had signed a memorandum of understanding intended to maintain safe navigation through the strategic waterway while broader nuclear negotiations continued.
In response, the United States launched airstrikes against Iranian military targets, including air-defense systems, anti-ship missile sites, drone facilities, coastal surveillance installations and port infrastructure in Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Qeshm Island.
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The Treasury Department also revoked sanctions waivers that had allowed Iran to continue exporting oil.
The developments have placed renewed attention on U.S. security commitments in the Middle East as Washington tries to balance its relationships with Israel, Turkey and other regional allies.
Congress Still Holds a Key Role
Although Trump has expressed support for reconsidering Turkey’s access to the F-35 program, any major policy shift would probably face scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn said before Trump’s remarks that he hoped Turkey would not be allowed back into the program, pointing to legal and security requirements established after Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S-400 system.
Federal law passed by Congress in 2020 effectively blocked the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey.
