President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, citing his personal rapport with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The remark sets the stage for a diplomatic balancing act as Trump prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a vocal opponent of the deal. Main Developments When asked about transferring F-35s to Ankara, Trump pointed to his friendly relationship with Erdogan as a factor in his thinking. The statement comes just before a scheduled meeting with Netanyahu, who has consistently lobbied against arming Turkey with advanced U.S. fighter jets. Read also: Trump Touts 'Friendly Talks' With Iran as Netanyahu Arrives in US Background Turkey was originally a partner in the F-35 program but was removed in 2019 after purchasing the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which Washington said posed a security risk. Erdogan has since sought to rejoin the program, while Netanyahu has pressed the U.S. to maintain the ban, fearing the jets could undermine Israel's regional military edge. Why It Matters Reinstating Turkey as an F-35 buyer would reshape NATO's eastern flank dynamics and strain U.S.-Israel relations. For Ankara, the jets represent a leap in air power capability; for Tel Aviv, the sale threatens the qualitative military advantage Washington has long guaranteed Israel in the Middle East. What's Next Trump's meeting with Netanyahu is expected to include direct discussion of the proposed sale. Any decision would require congressional approval, where opposition to arming Turkey remains strong. No formal proposal has been submitted to lawmakers yet.