Israel Awaits Netanyahu-Trump Meeting Amid Focus on Turkey Ahead of NATO Summit
As of now, Jerusalem has not begun practical preparations for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's anticipated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, which Trump said could occur within the coming week. However, sources note that Trump's attendance at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8 makes a meeting in Washington before then unlikely, with a meeting more probable the following week.
Netanyahu is eager to meet Trump after his return from Turkey to discuss key issues including Iran, negotiations with Tehran, and the Lebanon agreement. A critical concern in Israel is Trump's apparent warming stance toward Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and potential U.S.-Turkey defense deals, such as aircraft engines, F-35 components, or Turkey's possible reintegration into the stealth fighter program. Trump recently told NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that Erdogan is a strong NATO ally and hinted at forthcoming military-related gestures to Ankara.
Israel views Erdogan as hostile due to his positions on Israel, Hamas, and regional dynamics, contrasting with Trump's approach that emphasizes Turkey's strategic military value as a NATO member. This divergence raises Israeli worries about advanced military capabilities potentially returning to Turkey, which Israel has long sought to prevent.
The NATO summit will also focus on collective defense commitments, including a pledge of 70 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine through 2026 and calls for Iran to cease nuclear ambitions and respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump criticized European allies for insufficient support in recent conflicts, sparking tensions with Germany, whose Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended the country's increasing defense budget.
Should the Netanyahu-Trump meeting occur, it will unfold amid complex dynamics: a U.S. president advancing an Iran deal and embracing Erdogan, and an Israeli prime minister intent on safeguarding Israel's security interests while navigating an election campaign where a White House photo opportunity would be politically beneficial.
