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State Department OKs potential $24B fighter jet sale to Saudis
The package covers 48 jets and related equipment as U.S. officials weigh risks that Chinese access could expose sensitive military technology.
- On Thursday, the State Department approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 Lockheed Martin-made F-35s to Saudi Arabia, making the kingdom the first Arab country to purchase the advanced fighter jets.
- President Trump promised the sale before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed's November White House visit, though the proposal must still undergo a mandatory 30-day review by Congress before finalization.
- The State Department said the sale "supports the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States" by improving security for a major non-NATO ally in the Gulf region.
- Jonathan Ruhe, a fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, called the deal "a categorically bad idea" without guardrails on Riyadh's military cooperation with China.
- While Israel did not strongly object to the F-35 sale, concerns about Chinese spying persist, echoing a failed UAE deal during Trump's first term that collapsed over similar security fears.
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Hawaii Tribune-HeraldReposted by 
The Seattle Times
The Seattle TimesTrump moves ahead with F-35 jet sales to Saudi Arabia despite intelligence concerns
WASHINGTON — The State Department said Thursday that the Trump administration was moving forward with the sale of 48 advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, despite internal reports by U.S. intelligence agencies that China could acquire or steal the warplane’s technology.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources341
Leaning Left37Leaning Right52Center46Last UpdatedBias Distribution39% Right
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources lean Right
39% Right
L 27%
C 34%
R 39%
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