In a significant diplomatic move, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is set to visit the United States this Tuesday, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. The visit comes amid lingering international scrutiny over his alleged connection to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a bold announcement, President Donald Trump revealed plans to authorize the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This decision positions Saudi Arabia as the first Middle Eastern nation, aside from Israel, to acquire these advanced military aircraft.

Alongside the F-35 transaction, discussions are anticipated to cover the enhancement of cooperation between the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, according to a White House official. Speaking in the Oval Office, President Trump emphasized Saudi Arabia’s eagerness to purchase the jets, stating, “They are a great ally. We will be doing that. We will be selling them F-35s,” signaling strong support for the strategic partnership.

President Trump has consistently championed significant arms deals with Gulf nations, framing them as mutually beneficial. Historically, the United States has reserved the sale of such advanced fighter jets for its closest military allies, including NATO members. This strategic shift has the potential to alter the defense and military influence across the region, underscoring the evolving dynamics of international relations.

In response, Israel has asked the president to ‘condition the sale,’ saying they are not opposed to it, but that it needs to be ‘subject to Saudi normalization of Israel.’ If the US-Saudi fighter jet agreement goes through, Israel may ask for security assurances. It reportedly will take minutes for an F-35 plan to fly from Saudi Arabia to Israel.

Analysts say the announcement might not actually results in the country receiving the fighter jets anytime in the near future. ‘The devil will kind of be in the details there,’ Andrew Leber, a nonresident fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who has done extensive research on Saudi Arabia, told NBC news.

He noted that a prior deal made with the United Arab Emirates also fell through, saying the same could happen this time around. Congress could review the potential deal and could stop it from going forward.

Saudi Arabia is a country where the Trump family has a significant financial stake, with multiple active projects including Trump Tower in both Riyadh and Jeddah . The Trump Organization also announced a new project on the heels of Salman’s arrival with their Saudi-linked development partners Dar Global, opening in the Maldives in 2028.