US President Trump has indicated he will approve the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, opening the door to a major arms sale that Riyadh has been vying for for years. This move could reshape the military landscape of the Middle East and impact the US's long-standing policy of maintaining Israel's"quality military superiority." Saudi Arabia's multi-billion dollar deal to purchase up to 48 F-35s has passed key hurdles at the Pentagon, and Trump plans to discuss the case with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed al-Salman, who is scheduled to visit the US soon.
Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump said on the 17th that he plans to approve the sale of US-made F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The following day, Trump will host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a full day of diplomatic talks. Speaking to reporters in his oval office, Trump said,"I would say, we will do that. We will sell F-35 fighter jets."
If this arms sale comes to fruition, it would signify a major shift in US foreign policy, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East and testing Washington's definition of maintaining Israel's"qualitative military edge" (QME).
Reuters reported earlier that Saudi Arabia has requested to purchase up to 48 F-35 fighter jets. The deal, which could be worth billions of dollars, has passed a key review at the Pentagon, taking a step forward on the eve of Salman's visit to the United States.
Saudi Arabia has long been interested in Lockheed Martin's fighter jet. A senior White House official told Reuters before Trump's speech that the president wanted to discuss the arms sale with the Crown Prince,"and then we will make a decision."
Saudi Arabia is committed to modernizing its air force.
As the largest U.S. arms customer, Saudi Arabia has long sought to acquire this fighter jet to modernize its air force and respond to regional threats, particularly those from Iran. The country recently pushed for the purchase of the equivalent of two squadrons of aircraft, coinciding with the Trump administration's demonstrated willingness to deepen defense cooperation with Riyadh. The Royal Saudi Air Force currently operates several types of fighter jets, including Boeing F-15s, and European Tornado and Typhoon aircraft.
Saudi Arabia had earlier this year directly asked Trump to purchase the fighter jet. U.S. officials familiar with the matter previously told Reuters that the Pentagon's policy department had been discussing the potential arms sale for several months.
When considering arms sales to the Middle East, Washington ensures that Israel maintains a"qualitative military advantage." This principle guarantees Israel access to more advanced US-made weapons than other Arab countries in the region. The F-35, employing stealth technology to evade enemy detection, is considered one of the world's most advanced fighter jets. Israel has been operating this aircraft for nearly a decade, establishing multiple squadrons, and remains the only country in the Middle East to possess this weapon system.
Congressional scrutiny could pose a challenge to the arms sale. Legislators previously questioned the arms sale to Riyadh following the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and some members of Congress remain wary of deepening military cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
