US EditionHow Trump’s Saudi F-35 Deal Could Alter Mideast Balance of Power
Sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia will feature less advanced versions than Israel’s, requiring formal reviews and congressional approval amid security concerns.
- During the Crown Prince's Washington visit, President Donald Trump confirmed he intends to approve the F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia, reaffirming the deal during the visit.
- Amid efforts to deepen security and economic ties, U.S. and Saudi officials framed the sale as linked to Saudi investment commitments and regional normalization tied to Palestinian statehood.
- U.S. officials noted technical limits on Saudi jets, saying Saudi F-35s will be less advanced than Israel's, consistent with U.S. law guaranteeing Israel's Qualitative Military Edge; Israel has operated F-35s for roughly eight years.
- Israeli officials warned the sale risks eroding Israel's air superiority and raised alarms to U.S. counterparts, while Senate Democrats demanded explanations on protecting U.S. technology and Israel's edge.
- The process requires multiple formal steps, including a Qualitative Military Edge review, Pentagon letter of offer and acceptance, and Saudi Arabia negotiating with Lockheed Martin, but deliveries could take years.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Trump admin. seeks 'balanced' Saudi F-35 sale while preserving IDF military superiority
“The Trump administration is committed to the law that stipulates the United States will maintain the IDF’s qualitative edge in the Middle East," a senior White House official told N12.
Israel Had a Condition It Didn't Get in US-Saudi Jet Deal
Israeli officials are raising alarms over the US plan to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia —a move they say risks eroding Israel's decisive edge in regional air power, largely based on its exclusive access to the aircraft. Israel's success with the F-35 is clear: It has not...
How Trump’s Saudi F-35 deal could alter Mideast balance of power
President Trump’s deal to allow the sale of F-35 advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia has the potential to alter the military balance of power in the Middle East. The package of fifth-generation stealth fighters has prompted concerns among Israeli and some U.S. officials as it risks toppling Israel’s so-called qualitative military edge (QME), a…
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman got many promises during his visit to Washington, but the US President expects in return
Why Trump’s F-35 Plan For Saudi Arabia Is Shaking Up U.S. Policy
President Donald Trump’s push to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia has set off a heated debate across Washington. The proposed multibillion-dollar deal would take years to fulfill and touches nearly every major fault line in global security — Israel’s qualitative military edge, China’s rising influence, U.S. foreign military sales, and congressional oversight. As Saudi Crown Prince MBS visits the US, attention turns to the advanced F-35 fig…
Donald Trump's intention to sell the most advanced fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia has alarmed Israel. So far, it is the only country in the Middle East that has these machines, which gives it a technological advantage. The main criticism is that the sale is not directly tied to the normalization of relations between Jerusalem and Riyadh. If it were to happen, the benefits for the Jewish state outweigh the risks.
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