Just days before a closely watched meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is considering approving the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to the kingdom a move that could significantly shift the strategic balance in the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday, Trump said Riyadh has formally asked Washington to move forward with the purchase. “They want to buy a lot of jets, I’m looking at that,” he said. “They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of ‘35’ actually more than that, fighter jets. We make the best jets, the best missiles you saw that when we took out the nuclear capability of Iran,” he added, referencing the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
The timing of Trump’s remarks is significant. The crown prince is set to arrive in Washington for what the White House is describing as an expanded engagement involving economic, defense and strategic discussions. “It’s more than a meeting we’re honoring Saudi Arabia,” Trump said, underscoring the importance his administration is attaching to the visit.
Key items on the agenda are expected to include defense cooperation, nuclear discussions, and a renewed push for Saudi-Israel normalization, a longstanding U.S. priority. Trump reiterated that normalization efforts would be part of the conversation and expressed optimism that Riyadh could eventually join the Abraham Accords the Trump-era initiative that formalized ties between Israel and several Arab nations.
The potential F-35 deal, however, is likely to spark debate within Washington. Some Pentagon officials have previously raised concerns about sensitive technology transfers and regional military imbalances. Even so, the president’s latest comments signal that his administration may be willing to move forward if the broader strategic package which includes U.S. efforts to advance a Gaza plan that paves the way for eventual Palestinian statehood begins to take shape.
