Trump Signals Openness to Saudi Arabia’s F-35 Purchase Despite Pentagon China Warnings
US administration considers sale of up to 48 F-35 jets to Riyadh amid intelligence concerns and regional diplomacy
US President Donald Trump has indicated he is prepared to consider a request by Saudi Arabia to purchase advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets, saying: “They wanna buy a lot of jets … they have asked me to look at it.” The comments followed a formal request by Riyadh and set the stage for the upcoming meeting at the White House with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The proposed deal, reportedly for up to 48 of the F‑35 Lightning II aircraft, has cleared a key internal review within the United States Department of Defense and advanced to the secretary-level decision phase, though it still requires full Cabinet, presidential and Congressional approval.
However, the sale is generating considerable concern internally at the Pentagon: an intelligence assessment warns that allowing the transfer could enable sensitive F-35 technologies to be exposed, particularly through Saudi Arabia’s growing ties with China.
The report underscores fears that Chinese access to stealth, sensor and avionics systems might compromise US security.
Israeli officials, while not uniformly opposing the deal, are pressing for it to be conditional on Saudi normalisation of relations under the Abraham Accords and insist that the kingdom’s acquisition must not undermine Israel’s qualitative military edge.
The deal would mark a major policy shift, as Israel remains the only Middle Eastern state currently operating the F-35.
A sale of this magnitude would reflect Riyadh’s broader military modernisation under its Vision 2030 framework and deepen Saudi-US defence ties.
Proponents argue it strengthens a key Gulf security partnership.
Critics caution that without rigorous safeguards and regional diplomatic linkage, the transaction could spark regional arms escalation and compromise longstanding strategic balances.
With formal approvals still pending and Congressional oversight looming, the fate of this potential arms deal will be closely watched by regional and Western capitals alike.
The proposed deal, reportedly for up to 48 of the F‑35 Lightning II aircraft, has cleared a key internal review within the United States Department of Defense and advanced to the secretary-level decision phase, though it still requires full Cabinet, presidential and Congressional approval.
However, the sale is generating considerable concern internally at the Pentagon: an intelligence assessment warns that allowing the transfer could enable sensitive F-35 technologies to be exposed, particularly through Saudi Arabia’s growing ties with China.
The report underscores fears that Chinese access to stealth, sensor and avionics systems might compromise US security.
Israeli officials, while not uniformly opposing the deal, are pressing for it to be conditional on Saudi normalisation of relations under the Abraham Accords and insist that the kingdom’s acquisition must not undermine Israel’s qualitative military edge.
The deal would mark a major policy shift, as Israel remains the only Middle Eastern state currently operating the F-35.
A sale of this magnitude would reflect Riyadh’s broader military modernisation under its Vision 2030 framework and deepen Saudi-US defence ties.
Proponents argue it strengthens a key Gulf security partnership.
Critics caution that without rigorous safeguards and regional diplomatic linkage, the transaction could spark regional arms escalation and compromise longstanding strategic balances.
With formal approvals still pending and Congressional oversight looming, the fate of this potential arms deal will be closely watched by regional and Western capitals alike.
