Netanyahu warns US could 'destroy' Mideast power balance as Trump floats F-35 jet sale to Turkey
Trump on Tuesday became the first US president visit to Turkey in 11 years, arriving with a pledge to lift US sanctions imposed on its NATO ally over its purchase of Russian defence missiles and the suggestion that the US would sell Turkey F-35 fighter jets.
In a demonstration of warming relations between Washington and Ankara, Trump was welcomed by President Tayyip Erdogan at the airport with a lavish state ceremony during which Turkish soldiers riding horses escorted Trump's motorcade to the presidential palace.
Both leaders sang each other's praises in their public remarks.
Relations between the two nations have been strained since Turkey's 2019 acquisition of a Russian S-400 system and Washington's 2020 imposition of US sanctions on a major Turkish defence company and removal of Turkey from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program.
Although the jet sales are currently blocked under US law, Trump indicated his possible support for reversing this even as he did not say how exactly such a transaction would take place given objections from the US Congress.
"Turkey has been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal. ... It's a great plane, it's the best, currently the best plane by far. And it's certainly something we will consider," Trump said.
Trump also said the US would be "taking the sanctions off", Turkey.
"It's time. We don't want to sanction friends," he said, adding that his secretary of state and treasury secretary were working on the issue.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted Tuesday by saying that the US sale of fighter jets to Turkey would "destroy" the balance of power in the Middle East.
"It would destroy the power balance in the Middle East, because Turkey, I think, has aggressive aspirations," Netanyahu told CNN in a televised interview, adding: "When you give them that power, you're going to see aggression in its wake."
'No concerns'
Turkey has long sought to be readmitted to the F-35 program and for US sanctions that have hampered Turkish defence projects to be lifted.
Erdogan is counting on his good relations with Trump to help secure the delivery of five jets, for which payment has already been made.
The Turkish leader said on Tuesday: "We have discussed this before with the US and were promised five jets," adding: "I know that Mr. Trump always keeps his promises."
Congress passed a law in late 2019 prohibiting any F-35 sales to Turkey as long as it retained the S-400s, saying the Russian system posed a security risk to US-made combat aircraft. Currently, US law does not permit Turkey to operate or possess the S-400 system if it wishes to rejoin the F-35 program.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Republican Representative Mike Lawler and Democratic Representative Brad Sherman, last week wrote a letter to Trump expressing their "deep concern" about any F-35 sales to Turkey, citing the US law and Turkey's relations with Iran and "anti-Israel rhetoric".
When Trump was asked if he had any concerns about Ankara still being in possession of the Russian S-400s, he said he did not. "I have no concerns about anything having to do with Turkey," he said. "I would say the relationship with Turkey right now is better probably than it's ever been."
Trump and Erdogan's meeting took place ahead of the start of a two-day NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
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NATO allies increasingly see Turkey, which has the alliance's second-largest military and is a leading exporter of armed drones, as a bulwark against Russian aggression on the southeastern flank while concerns about human rights and press freedoms are seldom expressed.
As Trump has ratcheted up his criticism of NATO over what he describes as the pact's refusal to help with the Iran war, members are unlikely to criticise Turkey's declining democracy and rule of law, particularly after the Republican president said he may not have attended the NATO summit at all if it hadn't been Erdogan who invited him.
Turkey has seen an unprecedented legal crackdown on the country's main opposition Republican People's Party, including the jailing of its presidential candidate, Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan's main rival.
Under Trump, Turkey's deteriorating human rights track record has never been a topic of much concern for Washington.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)