WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Monday that he intends to approve the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a significant shift in long-standing U.S. policy governing the transfer of highly sophisticated weapons systems to Arab states.
The announcement came just one day before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s scheduled visit to the White House. “We’ll be selling F-35s,” Trump told reporters, praising the U.S. relationship with Riyadh. “Yeah, I am planning on doing it. They want to buy them. They’ve been a great ally.”
If finalized, the sale would mark a major victory for Saudi Arabia as the Trump administration seeks to encourage the kingdom to move toward normalizing relations with Israel under the framework of the Abraham Accords.
However, Saudi leaders have reiterated their adherence to the Arab Peace Initiative, which conditions diplomatic recognition of Israel on the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state.
The prospective arms deal has sparked debate in both Washington and Jerusalem about the need to preserve Israel’s “qualitative military edge,” a principle enshrined in U.S. law that guarantees Israel superior military capabilities over potential regional rivals.
Several Israeli officials have already expressed concern that the transfer of F-35s to Saudi Arabia could undermine that long-standing advantage.
The F-35, produced by Lockheed Martin, is considered one of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft, boasting stealth capabilities designed to evade sophisticated air defenses.
Critics in Israel warn that allowing Riyadh access to such technology could weaken Israel’s strategic dominance and alter the regional balance of power.