President Donald Trump, speaking on the eve of White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said the United States plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Riyadh
“I am planning on doing that,” he told reporters, when asked if he will approve the sale of the high-tech planes, to Saudi Arabia.
“We’ll be selling the F-35s,” the president added.
Trump is hosting the Crown Prince at the Oval Office on Tuesday.
Trump hopes Saudi Arabia will join Abraham Accords, normalizing ties with Israel
The meeting takes place in the backdrop of a summer of conflicts in the Middle East, which heightened a sense of insecurity among the energy-rich Gulf nations.
The regional situation improved somewhat with the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Saudi Arabia has long sought the modern warplanes with stealth technology and is reportedly also seeking defense pact with the United States.
As part of broader regional reset, President Trump also wants Riyadh to join Abraham Accords that accord diplomatic recognition to Israel. Saudi Arabia reportedly has linked normalizing relations with Israel to a categorical commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
On Monday, the UN Security Council adopted a U.S. draft resolution on moving forward with President Trump’s peace plan and also mentions the possibility of a Palestinian state coming into existence.
Saudi Arabia pursues US defense pact amid evolving security landscape
Riyadh is eying to purchase 48 F-35 fighters in a multibillion-dollar deal.
Saudi Araba and Iran are major regional rivals, and Riyadh’s modernization is seen as an attempt to gain military superiority in the region.
In his remarks, Trump called Saudi Arabia a great ally and made a particular mention of U.S. decimating Iran’s nuclear installations this year as Iran and Israel clashed during the Gaza war.
In momentous development, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign defense pact
The New York Times recently reported that a Pentagon report has expressed concerns that China might try to steal the F-35 technology from Saudi Arabia, if the sale goes through.
Moreover, Congress could still look into the deal.
Ali Imran is a Washington-based journalist, who has worked for leading world news organizations as a correspondent, expert and in editorial positions. He is a published author and poet.
