Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's latest meeting with US President Donald Trump was shaped around military options against Iran and Turkey's regional position. According to an article written by Marmara University faculty member Dr. Selim Han Yeniacun for AA Analysis, the meeting on July 28, 2026 once again revealed the limits of Netanyahu's influence in Washington.
Netanyahu has conducted intense diplomatic traffic since the start of Trump's second term. In February 2025, Trump announced a plan envisaging the relocation of Palestinians to other countries and turning Gaza into the 'Middle East Riviera.' During a meeting in April 2025, while Netanyahu sought support for military intervention against Iran, Trump announced that direct negotiations with Tehran would begin.
Iran and Turkey on the Agenda in Latest Meeting
The July 28 meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes and was held behind closed doors, centered on Iran. Three options were considered: a diplomatic agreement with Tehran, increased economic and military pressure, or new comprehensive strikes. While Netanyahu emphasized the military option, Trump focused on the cost of a war with Iran to energy prices, the Strait of Hormuz, and the upcoming midterm elections.
Turkey also came up in the context of F-35s and Syria. Netanyahu presented a map to Trump claiming that Turkey maintains a military presence in about 5 percent of Syria while Israel has only 0.1 percent. This comparison ignored the fact that Turkey's presence is based on cooperation with the Syrian administration, while Israel's amounts to occupation. The Israeli premier also accused Turkey of 'trying to reestablish the Ottoman Empire.'
Turkey's Regional Weight Limits Netanyahu
According to the analysis, Turkey's weight in Washington cannot be reduced to the personal relationship between Trump and President Erdoğan. Turkey has become an actor that can mediate in the Russia-Ukraine war, is influential in Syria's new political order, plays a role in Gaza negotiations, and seeks to limit tensions in the Iran crisis. Its status as NATO's second-largest army, its developing defense industry, and its strategic location have made Turkey an indispensable partner for the US.
Economic ties have also underpinned this rapprochement. Merchandise trade between the US and Turkey reached 36.8 billion dollars in 2025, while US exports to Turkey increased by 32.7 percent.
Anti-Turkey Discourse in Israel and Support in the US
The Netanyahu government has attempted to turn Turkey's growing influence into a threat narrative in domestic politics. In American television appearances, the Israeli premier argued that providing F-35s to Turkey would undermine Israel's aerial superiority. While a segment of the Israeli press supports this rhetoric, outlets such as Haaretz wrote that Netanyahu was positioning Turkey as an external enemy ahead of upcoming elections. Commentaries in Israel Hayom noted that Trump continues to view Erdoğan as a 'friend and ally.'
While Netanyahu's visits to Washington do not mean the US-Israel alliance has ended, they indicate a shift in Israel's weight in American foreign policy. The devastation in Gaza, the cost of a war with Iran, and Netanyahu's politics centered on the Republican Party have weakened bipartisan support for Israel. In a poll conducted in June 2026, 48 percent of American voters thought Washington was supporting Israel more than necessary.
Ultimately, it is difficult to say that Netanyahu reinforced his influence over Trump at the July 28 meeting. Although Israel remains an important security partner for the US, this partnership does not give Netanyahu unlimited veto power over Turkey.
