WASHINGTON – On Monday, President Donald Trump announced his decision to proceed with the sale of F-35 advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This announcement comes just a day before the scheduled visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington, highlighting the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
“Yes, we will be doing that,” Trump confirmed when questioned about the potential jet sale to Saudi Arabia. “We’ll be selling F-35s.”
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is slated to visit the White House on Tuesday, is expected to arrive with a set of requests. Among these are assurances from Trump regarding the U.S.’s military protection for Saudi Arabia and an agreement to purchase the U.S.-manufactured F-35 jets, renowned for being among the most sophisticated aircraft in the world.
The Trump administration has tread carefully regarding such military sales, mindful of preserving Israel’s “qualitative military advantage” in the region. This consideration is particularly significant as Trump seeks Israeli support for his Gaza peace initiative.
Another issue complicating the potential sale is the risk of F-35 technology being compromised or transferred to China, which maintains strong relations with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This concern has previously stalled similar deals, such as a proposed sale to the United Arab Emirates.
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