President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States will sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a decision made during the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington. This major arms transfer faces internal US administration concerns over the security of sensitive defense technology and the imperative to maintain Israel’s military advantage. The confirmation came as Trump stated, “We’ll be selling F-35s.”
The Crown Prince’s visit is critical for solidifying US-Saudi defense ties, with the F-35 acquisition being a key objective. The US government is carefully managing this by ensuring that Israel’s qualitative military edge remains intact, a priority for President Trump’s Middle East peace strategy. Fears of technology falling into the wrong hands, a factor that previously impacted F-35 sales to the UAE, are still relevant, especially considering Saudi Arabia’s expanding defense cooperation with China.
While China has become Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, the US remains the kingdom’s preferred defense partner. It is expected that Congress will demand significant concessions from Riyadh, including assurances on its relationship with Beijing and a robust plan to preserve Israel’s military superiority. Trump’s strategy involves leveraging this potential sale to encourage Saudi Arabia’s integration into the Abraham Accords. However, Saudi Arabia’s non-negotiable demand for a defined pathway to a Palestinian state remains a major obstacle. The recent UN Security Council resolution on Gaza offers a new dimension, but significant progress toward Saudi normalization is not anticipated immediately, though it remains a long-term goal.