U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration is weighing a multi-billion-dollar deal to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that could reshape defense relations in the Middle East and spark debate over U.S. military export policy.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed that Saudi leaders have expressed strong interest in purchasing dozens of the advanced aircraft, which are produced by Lockheed Martin.
“They wanna buy a lot of jets,” Trump said. “I’m looking at that. They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of ’35s — actually more than that — fighter jets.”
The comments come ahead of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington next week, where both sides are expected to finalize economic and defense agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Pentagon Clears Key Hurdle for Sale
According to multiple reports, including Reuters and The New York Times, Saudi Arabia’s request to buy up to 48 F-35 fighter jets has already cleared a key Pentagon review, paving the way for a potential sale pending White House approval.
If finalized, the deal would represent a major shift in U.S. defense policy and could challenge Washington’s long-standing commitment to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge — a core tenet of U.S. policy in the Middle East.
A Pentagon intelligence assessment, however, has raised concerns about the potential transfer of sensitive technology, warning that China could gain access to the aircraft’s stealth and radar systems if Riyadh fails to safeguard the platform properly.
Strategic and Diplomatic Implications
The proposed arms sale would also mark a deepening of defense cooperation between Washington and Riyadh, coming as the Trump administration continues to push for Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Abraham Accords — a series of normalization agreements between Israel and Arab nations.
“It’s more than a meeting, we’re honoring Saudi Arabia,” Trump told reporters, signaling the importance he places on the kingdom’s evolving relationship with the U.S.
Trump added that he hopes Saudi Arabia will soon join the Abraham Accords, though Riyadh has maintained it will not normalize ties with Israel without progress toward a Palestinian statehood agreement.
A High-Stakes Decision
Defense analysts say that selling the F-35 Lightning II, one of the world’s most advanced multirole fighter jets, would significantly boost Saudi Arabia’s air power while potentially altering the regional balance.
While supporters argue the sale could enhance deterrence against Iran and solidify U.S.-Saudi security ties, critics warn it risks escalating an arms race in the region and eroding U.S. leverage in future peace efforts.
The F-35 deal is expected to be a central topic when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with President Trump at the White House next week.
