Major Defense Agreement Expected During Saudi Crown Prince's White House Visit
In a significant development for international relations, President Donald Trump is reportedly close to finalizing an agreement with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that would enable the kingdom to acquire advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets. According to an anonymous administration official familiar with the negotiations, this potential deal represents a major shift in Middle East defense dynamics.
Strategic Agreements on the Table
The anticipated defense and economic agreements are scheduled to be signed during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the White House on Tuesday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the comprehensive package will include not only the F-35 aircraft but also agreements concerning liquefied natural gas purchases, though specific details remain undisclosed.
This potential F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia marks a substantial concession as the United States and Saudi Arabia seek to strengthen their bilateral ties. The development comes amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to encourage Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords and establish normalized relations with Israel.
Challenges and Strategic Implications
Saudi Arabia has been actively pursuing the acquisition of F-35 aircraft, which are manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation and represent some of the world's most sophisticated fighter jets. Each F-35 carries an estimated price tag of $100 million, making this a multi-billion dollar defense package.
However, several significant obstacles remain. Israel currently maintains the Middle East's exclusive access to F-35 technology and has expressed strong interest in preserving this monopoly, which Israeli officials argue provides a crucial strategic advantage for national security.
Additional concerns have emerged from a Pentagon report cited by the New York Times, which highlighted potential risks of China acquiring the aircraft's advanced technology through Beijing's existing defense cooperation with Riyadh.
The F-35 discussion forms just one component of a broader agenda for the Trump-MBS meeting. Other critical topics expected to be addressed include access to artificial intelligence chips, nuclear technology cooperation, the future situation in Gaza, and the ongoing process of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
This meeting represents another step in rebuilding US-Saudi relations, which faced significant strain following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. President Trump has consistently worked to maintain a close relationship with the Saudi crown prince throughout his administration.
The White House has not provided official comment regarding these anticipated agreements.
