US President Donald Trump has revealed he is actively considering a major defense deal that would see Saudi Arabia acquire advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets, a move that could significantly reshape Middle East military dynamics. The announcement comes just days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's scheduled visit to the White House.
High-Stakes Defense Negotiations
Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One on Friday, President Trump confirmed Saudi Arabia's interest in purchasing a substantial number of F-35 aircraft. "They wanna buy a lot of jets," Trump stated, adding "I am looking at that. They have asked me to look at it." The proposed deal involves the transfer of 48 F-35 stealth fighters, one of America's most sophisticated military platforms.
The timing of Trump's comments is significant, arriving ahead of his scheduled meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House next week. Both nations are expected to sign multiple economic and defense agreements during the high-profile visit. The White House has maintained silence on the specifics, refusing to comment ahead of the presidential discussions.
Regional Security Implications
US officials are currently conducting thorough assessments of how the potential sale might affect Israel's qualitative military edge in the region. This concern carries substantial weight since Israel remains the only Middle Eastern country currently operating F-35s, having deployed them in airstrikes against Iran in October 2024 and June 2025.
Trump emphasized the importance of the upcoming meeting, characterizing it as "more than meeting, we are honouring" Saudi Arabia. The President also reiterated his hope that Riyadh would eventually join the Abraham Accords, though Saudi Arabia has consistently resisted taking such steps without a clear pathway to Palestinian statehood.
Chinese Espionage Concerns Cloud Deal
According to Pentagon intelligence assessments reviewed by The New York Times, US officials worry that China could gain access to the F-35's sensitive technology if the sale proceeds to Saudi Arabia. Defense Intelligence Agency findings indicate serious concerns about potential Chinese espionage activities and Beijing's expanding security cooperation with Riyadh.
This isn't the first time such concerns have emerged. In 2020, the Trump administration approved F-35 sales to the United Arab Emirates as part of the Abraham Accords, but the deal eventually stalled after US officials raised alarms about Abu Dhabi's connections with China and the potential impact on Israel's military superiority. The Biden administration later paused the sale in 2021, specifically citing fears about Chinese access to the jet's advanced technology, and ultimately proposed conditions that the UAE found unacceptable.
Recent diplomatic activities suggest ongoing preparations for the potential agreement. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman recently used social media to announce his meetings with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. "We reviewed the Saudi-US relations and explored ways to bolster our strategic cooperation," the minister stated following these discussions.
The proposed sale currently awaits clearance within the US government framework. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was expected to approve the deal before it moves to an interagency review process, where various national security considerations will be thoroughly examined.
