US EditionHow Trump’s Saudi F-35 Deal Could Alter Mideast Balance of Power
Despite risks of Chinese technology access and concerns over Israel's military edge, Trump confirmed the F-35 sale during Saudi Crown Prince's Washington visit.
- On Tuesday, President Donald Trump reaffirmed the F-35 sale during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington.
- Saudi Arabia wants the jets for their advanced sensors and networking capabilities, while U.S. officials worry China may already have older intelligence on the F-35 from past cyber intrusions, the Defense Science Board reported.
- The F-35 is costly and complex, costing up to $77 million apiece in 2023, with more than 1,200 jets produced supporting nearly 300,000 jobs across 49 states and Puerto Rico.
- The deal faces both diplomatic pushback and procedural steps that can stretch over years, as Riyadh must submit a formal request and U.S. Congress must approve before transfers begin.
- Given Lockheed Martin's recent delivery delays—110 aircraft last year arrived late by 238 days—experts say F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia would take years and link the sale to President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan.
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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