Trump greenlights F-35 jet sale to Saudi Arabia ahead of MBS White House visit

On the eve of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House, President Donald Trump announced that the United States will approve the sale of advanced F‑35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a dramatic shift in US arms export policy toward Arab states. 

The potential deal would be historic, if completed, Saudi Arabia would become the first Arab country to join the F-35 programme after Israel. Trump told reporters on Monday that “we’ll be selling F-35s,” while praising Saudi-US ties and highlighting the kingdom’s strategic importance. 

Key details:

Saudi officials have sought up to 48 of the jets in a multibillion-dollar package and have recently cleared a Pentagon policy review, according to US defence sources. 

The F-35, built by Lockheed Martin, is considered the world’s most advanced fighter, featuring stealth technology that makes it hard for enemy defences to detect.

The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is due in Washington for talks with Trump on November 18, highlighting the administration’s efforts to deepen defence and diplomatic ties with Riyadh. 

The decision raises significant questions about the US commitment to preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME), a policy backed by US law that ensures Israel maintains superior military capability in the region. 

Furthermore, this sale is seen as a lever in encouraging KSA to normalise relations with Israel, along the lines of the Abraham Accords. Saudi officials, however, have repeated that recognition of Israel remains on the realisation of a Palestinian state, in line with the ‎Arab Peace Initiative. 

However, the congress retains the authority to block the sale, and lawmakers remain cautious following past controversies involving Saudi Arabia, including the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

If the sale goes ahead, it would redefine US arms-sales policy in the Middle East and signal a newly established Saudi-American strategic alignment, built not only on weapons transfers, but on defence cooperation and diplomatic outreach.