US President Donald Trump has confirmed that Washington will proceed with the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia ahead of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House. The announcement marks a major shift in US–Saudi defense ties and comes after months of speculation.
Trump said Riyadh had strengthened its relationship with Washington following recent US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The administration views the sale as part of a broader regional strategy aimed at countering Iranian influence.
Israel, however, has expressed concern over the deal. Officials hoped the United States would tie the sale to Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords. Saudi leaders have insisted that normalization with Israel would require a clear pathway toward a future Palestinian state — a condition Israel’s current government strongly opposes.
While Trump signaled his intention to proceed, defense experts have raised alarms about the risk of sensitive F-35 technology leaking to China. The White House maintains that all safeguards will be in place.
