In a significant development in US-Saudi relations, President Donald Trump announced plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia during a White House meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump praised Saudi Arabia as a ‘great ally,’ emphasizing the strengthening of bilateral ties. This meeting marks the Crown Prince’s first visit to the White House since the controversial killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, an incident linked to Saudi agents. While a US intelligence report implicated Prince Mohammed in the operation, he has consistently denied involvement. The leaders are expected to discuss defense and civilian nuclear power agreements, building on the $142 billion arms deal signed in May 2023, described as the ‘largest defense sales agreement in history.’ However, the potential sale of F-35s has raised concerns among US defense officials and Israeli leaders. Critics fear Saudi Arabia could share sensitive stealth technology with China, while Israel worries about its military edge in the region. Additionally, Trump is expected to advocate for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel, though Saudi officials have linked this to progress on Palestinian statehood—a condition rejected by Israel’s current government.
US to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, Trump says ahead of crown prince’s visit
