A planned meeting between U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that was set for Wednesday to consider a potential sale of F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey has been cancelled, an Israeli source said. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Hegseth had also been scheduled to meet Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz during his trip and that Iran would be among the topics planned for discussion.
The possible transfer of F-35s to Turkey is a contentious issue. The Israeli source said any such sale would likely anger Israeli officials. Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly voiced opposition to the idea, saying in an interview that he had made his stance clear to U.S. leadership and arguing that delivery of the jets to Turkey "would destroy the power balance in the Middle East because Turkey has aggressive aspirations."
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed to end the conflict that the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran was "over" and that he did not want to engage with Tehran. The president also announced on Tuesday that he would lift U.S. sanctions imposed on Ankara over its 2019 purchase of Russian air defence missiles, and signalled a willingness to sell F-35s to the NATO ally.
The proposal to sell F-35s to Turkey faces obstacles beyond Israeli objections. The sale is likely to encounter strong resistance in the U.S. Congress and remains blocked under U.S. law, according to the information provided. Turkey had been removed from the F-35 programme following its acquisition of the Russian S-400 system, which prompted U.S. sanctions on a major Turkish defence company.
Relations between Washington and Ankara had deteriorated sharply after the S-400 purchase, but they have reportedly warmed since President Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. Despite an apparent thaw in bilateral ties, legal and political barriers to the sale persist.
The Israeli source noted that Iran would figure in Hegseth’s planned conversations with Israeli officials. The U.S. embassy in Israel had no immediate comment on the planned meetings.
Context and implications - The cancellation highlights the sensitivity surrounding advanced arms transfers in a region with complex security dynamics. Israel’s explicit opposition and the prospect of Congressional resistance make the path to any sale uncertain, even as Washington signals a willingness to restore aspects of its relationship with Ankara.