President Donald Trump announces plan to sell F-35 fighter jests to Saudi Arabia [Image by AP]
(The Post News) – President Donald Trump made an announcement on Monday. He said the United States will move to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This decision grants Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman one of the region’s most coveted defence assets. It is setting off a fierce policy fight in Washington.
“We’ll be selling F-35s,” Trump said from the Oval Office, extolling Saudi Arabia as a “great ally.” His comment comes one day before the crown prince’s White House visit. The two leaders plan to discuss deeper defence cooperation during this visit.
Trump’s decision hands Prince Mohammed a major diplomatic win. It strengthens US-Saudi ties. This comes at a time when the administration wants stronger Gulf partnerships. Some Republican lawmakers hope to use the sale to nudge Riyadh closer to future diplomatic ties with Israel.
Israel, Congress and China Push Back
The sale sets off a slew of immediate challenges. U.S. law requires Washington to protect Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” Israeli officials express their desire to remain the only Middle Eastern country flying the advanced fighter.
National security officials also warn about the growing security relationship between China and Saudi Arabia. Because of this relationship, China could gain access to F-35 technology. A recent Defence Intelligence Agency report highlighted that risk, raising new scrutiny in Washington.
Congress can block the deal. Lawmakers in both parties have voiced deep concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. They are also troubled by its past actions in Yemen. But Trump has a history of overriding congressional objections, as he did in a big 2019 Gulf arms package.
With Trump’s endorsement, however, the sale is still a long way from approval. Riyadh would need to make a formal request for the sale, which Congress would then review. The Pentagon would have to negotiate the needed Letter of Offer and Acceptance. The Saudis would then have to strike terms directly with Lockheed Martin.
Production delays could push delivery several years out. Lockheed already serves 19 international partners and manages more than 1,100 aircraft orders. Each F-35 currently costs between $80 million and $110 million, with long-term maintenance costs running far higher.
Lessons From the UAE’s Stalled F-35 Deal
The United Arab Emirates offers a cautionary tale. The Trump administration approved a sale of up to 50 F-35s. This was in exchange for Emirati recognition of Israel. However, the jets still have not arrived. Disputes over Chinese technology in the UAE telecom network and U.S. limits on jet usage stalled the agreement.
Many analysts expect similar complications for Saudi Arabia.
Still, despite the hurdles, Trump’s announcement gives momentum to Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohammed is seeking a broader defence pact with Washington, access to advanced U.S. technology, and support for a civilian nuclear program. “He won’t get everything. He’ll get some. That’s a win,” said Dina Esfandiary, Middle East Geoeconomics Lead at Bloomberg Economics.
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