Scoop: Netanyahu asks Trump to rein in Erdoğan ahead of NATO summit [View all]

Source: msn/Axios

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu complained to President Trump on Friday about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's escalating anti-Israel rhetoric, according to Israeli and U.S. officials.

Netanyahu also asked Trump, who will meet Erdoğan during this week's NATO summit in Ankara, to refrain from selling weapons systems that would help Turkey modernize its air force, the officials said.

Why it matters: Israel-Turkey tensions have soared over the last two years amid the wars in Gaza and Iran. But Trump has kept close, friendly ties with both Netanyahu and Erdoğan — a key U.S. ally and regional mediator.

Netanyahu's standing in Washington has slipped in recent months over the Iran war, which has damaged Trump's approval rating and divided his MAGA base.

How much sway Netanyahu still holds is unclear — both because of Trump's close relationship with Erdoğan, and because of the financial upside from U.S. arms sales to Turkey.

Driving the news: Trump is traveling on Monday to meet Erdoğan and participate in the NATO leaders summit in Ankara.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/scoop-netanyahu-asks-trump-to-rein-in-erdo%C4%9Fan-ahead-of-nato-summit/ar-AA27lH4p