Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern to U.S. President Donald Trump over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s escalating anti-Israel rhetoric, according to a report by Axios. Citing U.S. and Israeli officials, the outlet said that during a Friday phone call, Netanyahu also urged Trump not to proceed with arms sales that could help modernize Turkey’s air force.
A Call for Diplomatic Pressure
According to the same sources, Netanyahu sought to persuade Trump to use his influence to encourage Erdoğan to tone down his rhetoric toward Israel. An unnamed U.S. official told Axios: “Netanyahu made a request, and the president listened. So the president might convey a message along the lines of, ‘Could you ease up a bit on this issue?’” The official added, however, that the trajectory of U.S.-Turkish relations remains uncertain.
Upcoming NATO Summit Context
The Axios report notes that Trump and Erdoğan are expected to meet on the sidelines of the NATO summit currently taking place in Ankara.
Shifting Influence in Washington
Despite the recent strain in Israel-Turkey ties over the past two years, Trump maintains close communication with both leaders. Yet the report suggests Netanyahu’s influence in Washington has waned in recent months — a development linked in part to regional tensions following the conflict with Iran. It remains unclear, Axios adds, whether Netanyahu can meaningfully sway Trump’s decisions — especially given the U.S. president’s relationship with Erdoğan and the economic interests tied to potential American arms sales to Turkey.