Trump’s Turkey Policy Raises Concerns at NATO Summit

During the NATO summit, President Donald Trump emphasized that the U.S.-Turkey relationship remains strong despite ongoing disputes over F-35 fighter jets. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of Turkey’s support for Hamas.

Olivia Beavers from the Wall Street Journal highlighted the discomfort among Republicans regarding Trump’s approach, suggesting backchannel efforts to avoid altering the Middle East balance of power.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a direct warning to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He accused Erdoğan of engaging Turkey in dangerous actions in Syria and cautioned against testing Israel’s resolve. Katz wrote on social media, urging Erdoğan to continue his rhetorical attacks within Turkey rather than challenge Israel’s security.

This warning emerged shortly after Israel attacked Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Airbase. The tense atmosphere necessitated U.S. efforts to mitigate tensions between Turkey and Israel, two key U.S. allies.

While Israel accused Syria of violating security agreements by permitting Turkish troop presence, Syria denied plans for permanent Turkish bases, though acknowledging Turkish military visits for training.

Critics argue Turkey’s verbal attacks on Israel border on antisemitism.

Satellite images revealed damage at the Syrian airbase after the Israeli strike. Turkey dismissed Israel’s allegations as attempts to justify illegal airstrikes, accusing Netanyahu of leveraging regional policies for electoral gains.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that Washington is working on refining a de-escalation process. He expressed doubt about an imminent Israeli-Turkish confrontation but acknowledged Israel’s concerns about Turkey’s military movements in Syria.

Special envoy Tom Barrack warned that Turkey, having received no prior notification of the strike, could have reacted militarily after detecting Israeli aircraft. Washington aims to establish a stronger deconfliction mechanism among Turkey, Israel, and Syria to avoid accidental conflict.

Sinan Ciddi, director of the Turkey Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that Ankara views the confrontation as an extension of Netanyahu’s political maneuvers.

He explained that Erdoğan appears determined to take actions in Syria perceived as military escalations by Israel, such as arms deals and military training. Ciddi highlighted Israel’s clear red lines in Syria and the necessity for all parties to adhere to agreed rules.

Attempts to prevent Israeli-Turkish conflict are ongoing. Technical discussions began in 2025 to avert misunderstandings in Syria. Turkey’s defense minister confirmed continuing talks as Ankara advises the Syrian military.

Ciddi argued that a deconfliction mechanism alone might not stop Israeli actions if Turkey continues crossing Israeli security thresholds.

Within Israel, criticism against Netanyahu has emerged, with former Prime Minister Ehud Barak accusing Netanyahu of escalating tensions for political gain. Barak suggested the disputes with Turkey could be resolved through discreet diplomacy with U.S. coordination.