US to Supply F-35 Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Tue Nov 18 2025 17:14:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant announcement, President Trump confirmed the sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia during the crown prince's visit to the White House.

President Trump has officially announced the impending sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, affirming the kingdom's status as a critical ally. This development will take place during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is visiting the US for the first time since the controversial murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The conversation is expected to encompass discussions on defense and nuclear power deals, while concerns arise regarding the implications of such military sales on regional security and US-Israel relations.

The US will sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump told reporters ahead of a White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

We will be doing that. We will be selling F-35 jets, Trump said. They've been a great ally.

The leaders are expected to discuss deals on defense and civilian nuclear power during Tuesday's White House visit, which is the first by the de facto Saudi leader since journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed and dismembered at the hands of Saudi agents seven years ago.

A US intelligence assessment said that Prince Mohammed approved the operation that led to the killing, which he has denied.

Prince Mohammed's last visit occurred during Trump's first term in 2018, the same year as Khashoggi's murder in Istanbul.

While former President Joe Biden had promised to make the country a pariah over its human rights record, he visited Saudi Arabia in 2022 to discuss other issues, raising Khashoggi's murder during that meeting.

Trump and the crown prince met in Riyadh in May, where the US agreed to sell nearly $142 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia in what was described as the largest defense sales agreement in history. Saudi Arabia remains the largest buyer of US arms.

American defense officials have raised concerns regarding the potential sale of the F-35s. There are fears that such a sale would expose Saudi Arabia to sensitive stealth technology, which could be shared with China due to their security partnership.

Officials in Israel have expressed anxiety as well, claiming that the deal could undermine Israel's military advantage. Israel is the closest US ally in the Middle East and the only country in the region that operates F-35s.

One F-35A jet carries an average price tag of $82.5 million, according to its lead manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.

During the meeting, Trump may also urge Saudi Arabia to sign the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel, contingent upon Saudi expectations for a path to Palestinian statehood, which the current Israeli government opposes.