US President Donald Trump has revealed that he is considering a major deal to supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 stealth fighter jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
“They wanna buy a lot of jets,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I’m looking at that. They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of ‘35’ — but they want to buy actually more than that, fighter jets.”
The announcement comes ahead of a high-profile visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House next week, where both leaders are expected to sign agreements covering economic and defense cooperation. Trump described the upcoming talks as “more than a meeting, we’re honouring” Saudi Arabia.
In addition to defense discussions, Trump reiterated hopes that Saudi Arabia may soon join the Abraham Accords, the agreement that has normalized relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations. Riyadh has previously resisted the step, citing the need for a clear roadmap to Palestinian statehood.
The potential F-35 sale has raised eyebrows in Washington. A Pentagon intelligence report, cited by the New York Times, warned that selling the jets to Saudi Arabia could risk the technology falling into China’s hands, highlighting the high stakes involved in the proposed deal.
This move underscores Trump’s continued focus on strengthening US-Saudi ties while navigating complex regional and international dynamics. For the global community, the deal could reshape defense and economic partnerships in the Middle East.
