Washington, — President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States will sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant policy shift in U.S. defense relations in the Middle East. The announcement came just a day before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to visit the White House for high-level talks.
In remarks from the Oval Office, Trump confirmed that Saudi Arabia, a longstanding U.S. ally in the region, has expressed strong interest in purchasing the fifth-generation stealth fighters manufactured by Lockheed Martin. “We’ll be selling the F-35s,” Trump said, noting that the Saudis “want to buy a lot” of the jets along with other fighter aircraft. This is seen as a major win for Riyadh as Washington seeks to deepen strategic ties with the kingdom.
The potential deal could involve up to 48 F-35 jets and represents a multibillion-dollar arms sale that would alter the military balance in the Gulf region. It also comes amid efforts to encourage Saudi Arabia to participate in broader Middle East normalization agreements, similar to those previously reached between the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel.
The sale would require careful navigation of U.S. commitments to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region, an important consideration for lawmakers and defense officials. Saudi Arabia also hopes to secure a formal security pact with the U.S., akin to the one the U.S. signed with the UAE.
Trump’s endorsement follows years of Saudi interest in joining the exclusive group of countries operating the F-35, a goal the UAE advanced but saw paused by the previous U.S. administration due to regional and technology concerns.
As Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prepares for his visit to Washington, the announcement of the F-35 sale underscores a deepening defense partnership and increasing U.S.-Saudi cooperation on economic and security fronts.