The Trump administration’s approval of a potential $24.3 billion sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia has put a long-pursued defence deal on a new track.The proposed package includes 48 F-35 aircraft and 49 engines, but the sale is not final yet and still faces congressional review. If approved, Saudi Arabia would become only the second country in the Middle East to operate the advanced fighter after Israel.The decision is significant because the F-35 is one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the US arsenal, and its proposed transfer to Saudi Arabia would mark a major expansion of the kingdom’s air warfare capabilities.
The deal has also renewed scrutiny over its potential impact on the Middle East’s military balance, Saudi Arabia’s growing ties with China and the protection of sensitive US defence technology.According to Reuters, Trump administration had already agreed to a separate $142 billion defence package with Saudi Arabia in 2025For Saudi Arabia, the deal would represent a major upgrade to its air force. The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter designed around stealth, advanced sensors and networked warfare capabilities.Why the deal is controversialThe biggest question surrounding the proposed sale is how it could affect the military balance in the Middle East. Israel has operated the F-35 for years and has long maintained that preserving its qualitative military edge is essential to its security.The US administration has argued that the proposed sale would not undermine the regional military balance. The aircraft and systems supplied to Saudi Arabia could also differ from Israel’s F-35 configuration, which includes Israeli-specific modifications and capabilities. CNN reported that Israeli concerns nevertheless remain over the potential consequences of the transfer.Another concern around the deal is Saudi growing relations with China. Saudi Arabia has expanded its economic, technological and military relationship with Beijing in recent years. US officials and intelligence agencies have raised questions about whether China’s access to Saudi facilities or its broader relationship with Riyadh could create a risk to sensitive F-35 technology.The United Arab Emirates had previously been offered F-35s, but its proposed acquisition eventually stalled amid US concerns over its relationship with China and the protection of American technology.The Congressional review will also be a major hurdle for the F-35 deal. Even though the Trump administration has approved the potential sale, lawmakers can review the deal and raise objections. The debate could involve not only Israel’s security and China-related technology concerns, but also Saudi Arabia’s wider record and the strategic implications of expanding US military cooperation with Riyadh.
