Hegseth was set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz to discuss Iran and regional security, as reported by Reuters. No official explanation for the visit’s cancellation has been provided.
The cancellation came as Washington and Jerusalem were anticipated to align their strategies regarding Iran in light of Trump’s recent comments, which have prompted worries about the security landscape in the Middle East.
Iran and F-35 sale to Turkey on the discussion agenda
As per Reuters, Iran was slated to be a major topic during the talks between Hegseth, Netanyahu, and Katz.
The discussions were also expected to cover the potential sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, a move that Israel opposes.
In a CNN interview on Tuesday, Netanyahu stated he had voiced his concerns to Trump, emphasizing that providing Turkey with the fifth-generation aircraft could disrupt the regional military equilibrium.
Trump, currently attending a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Turkey, announced on Tuesday that his administration would lift the U.S. sanctions on Ankara imposed due to its 2019 acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defence missile system. He also suggested that his administration was prepared to proceed with the F-35 sale to Turkey.
