Trump Administration Advances $-Billion F-35 Deal for Saudi Arabia, Tied to Push for Israel Normalisation
Sale of stealth jets to Riyadh proceeds even as Washington urges alignment with Israel under the Abraham Accords
The United States under President Donald J. Trump has moved forward with plans to sell advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia — even as pressure mounts for Riyadh to normalise relations with Israel as a condition of the arms transfer.
The proposed deal, confirmed during a high-level meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marks a major policy shift and promises to reshape military alignments in the Middle East.
Under the new security agreement announced in November 2025, Saudi Arabia was designated a “major non-NATO ally” of the United States, paving the way for the sale of F-35s and nearly 300 U.S.-made tanks.
The agreement also covers expanded cooperation in civil nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and critical-minerals technology.
The pact is intended to strengthen deterrence in the region and deepen economic and defence ties between Washington and Riyadh.
While the White House confirmed it will move ahead with the sale, U.S. officials said the jets destined for Saudi Arabia will be deliberately withheld the custom modifications and weapons systems that give Israel’s F-35s their unique edge.
Analysts say that differentiation is intended to maintain Israel’s so-called qualitative military edge — a longstanding pillar of U.S. Middle-East policy.
At the same time, Israeli officials have urged the Trump administration to make the sale contingent on Saudi normalisation with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
They argue that granting Saudi Arabia advanced military hardware without diplomatic concessions would weaken Israel’s strategic advantage and encourage a regional arms race.
Some U.S. lawmakers, citing both Israel’s security and human-rights concerns with Saudi Arabia, have signalled scepticism about fast-tracking the deal through congressional approval.
Saudi officials, however, have declared that while they value improved ties with Washington, any decision to normalise relations with Israel will depend on a lasting and fair resolution for the Palestinian question.
The divergence between Saudi diplomatic constraints and U.S. strategic ambitions presents a complex balancing act ahead.
The F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia thus proceeds at a delicate juncture: a test of U.S. defence commitments, a potential recalibration of regional security architecture, and a signal that Washington is prioritising deepened partnerships even amid unresolved regional diplomatic stalemates.
The proposed deal, confirmed during a high-level meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marks a major policy shift and promises to reshape military alignments in the Middle East.
Under the new security agreement announced in November 2025, Saudi Arabia was designated a “major non-NATO ally” of the United States, paving the way for the sale of F-35s and nearly 300 U.S.-made tanks.
The agreement also covers expanded cooperation in civil nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and critical-minerals technology.
The pact is intended to strengthen deterrence in the region and deepen economic and defence ties between Washington and Riyadh.
While the White House confirmed it will move ahead with the sale, U.S. officials said the jets destined for Saudi Arabia will be deliberately withheld the custom modifications and weapons systems that give Israel’s F-35s their unique edge.
Analysts say that differentiation is intended to maintain Israel’s so-called qualitative military edge — a longstanding pillar of U.S. Middle-East policy.
At the same time, Israeli officials have urged the Trump administration to make the sale contingent on Saudi normalisation with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
They argue that granting Saudi Arabia advanced military hardware without diplomatic concessions would weaken Israel’s strategic advantage and encourage a regional arms race.
Some U.S. lawmakers, citing both Israel’s security and human-rights concerns with Saudi Arabia, have signalled scepticism about fast-tracking the deal through congressional approval.
Saudi officials, however, have declared that while they value improved ties with Washington, any decision to normalise relations with Israel will depend on a lasting and fair resolution for the Palestinian question.
The divergence between Saudi diplomatic constraints and U.S. strategic ambitions presents a complex balancing act ahead.
The F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia thus proceeds at a delicate juncture: a test of U.S. defence commitments, a potential recalibration of regional security architecture, and a signal that Washington is prioritising deepened partnerships even amid unresolved regional diplomatic stalemates.