U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth canceled a meeting that had been scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an Israeli source said, according to Reuters.

The talks were expected to take place during Hegseth’s planned visit to Israel. The source said the discussions were intended to cover the prospective deal at a time when the issue is likely to draw strong opposition from Israel.

In the background, Netanyahu has publicly argued against any F-35 transfer to Turkey, warning it could shift the regional balance of power. Reuters reporting also ties the potential sale to broader U.S.-Turkey developments around sanctions and defense cooperation.