President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will proceed with the sale of advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a significant policy move that could reshape the military balance in the Middle East. The confirmation came ahead of a scheduled White House visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to finalize new economic and defense agreements.
“I will say that we will be doing that,” Trump told reporters when asked about the potential deal. “We’ll be selling F-35s.”
The proposed sale, which reportedly includes as many as 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft, signals a major deepening of the U.S.-Saudi strategic partnership. For years, Saudi Arabia has sought access to America’s top-tier fifth-generation fighter, but past requests were met with resistance due to long-standing U.S. policy.
However, the decision is not without significant controversy. The primary obstacle is the U.S. legal commitment to maintain Israel’s “Qualitative Military Edge” (QME). Israel is currently the only nation in the Middle East to operate the F-35, and both U.S. and Israeli officials have expressed deep concerns that providing the same advanced platform to a neighboring Arab state could erode that critical advantage.
Furthermore, the deal faces scrutiny within the U.S. defense and intelligence communities. A Pentagon intelligence assessment has reportedly raised alarms over the security of the F-35’s highly sensitive technology. Similar to a previously stalled F-35 deal with the United Arab Emirates, there are fears that Saudi Arabia’s close economic and political ties with China could create vulnerabilities, potentially allowing Beijing to gain access to the jet’s classified stealth and sensor-networking systems.
The Trump administration appears to be weighing these risks against the strategic and economic benefits of the sale. The move is seen as an effort to further solidify the U.S. alliance with Riyadh, a key regional counterweight to Iran. President Trump has also publicly linked the deal to his administration’s broader diplomatic goals, expressing hope that strengthening the U.S.-Saudi relationship will encourage the kingdom to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel.
As the sale moves through the formal approval process, it is expected to face a contentious review and significant debate from lawmakers concerned about regional security, technology transfer, and human rights.
