Trump confirms US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia

They are built through an international supply chain involving the US and its allies, including the UK, and assembled at Lockheed’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

As such, the US effectively controls the global supply of the jets, and government approval is required to sell them internationally. Other than Saudi Arabia, only the US and 19 allied nations receive the fighters, including Israel.

In recent months, though, the Kingdom has been a key backer of Trump’s Middle East policy, particularly his 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which was approved by the UN Security Council on Monday night.

The two nations have also agreed several high-value business deals after Trump personally visited the Gulf nation back in May.

And there have been reports that the close relations between Riyadh and Washington could result in the former agreeing to diplomatic normalisation with Jerusalem – a move both the US and Israel have long sought.

The sale is expected to amount to a shipment of 48 F-35s, each worth around $80 million for the base model.

However, some national security experts have expressed concerns about the sale of the planes to Saudi Arabia.

For example, a recent report from the Defence Intelligence Agency, a division of the newly-renamed Department of War, suggested that Riyadh’s existing security partnership with Beijing could see the technology fall into Chinese hands.

Others have suggested that the move could compromise the US’ commitment to maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military edge” in the region, since it is currently the only Middle Eastern country to receive F-35s.

The IDF has formally opposed the sale on this basis, with a spokesperson confirming the military had “presented its positions on the issue to the political echelon”.

Trump’s announcement came just hours before Prince Mohammed arrives at the White House for his first US trip since 2018.

The crown prince has not visited Washington since the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in which he was implicated by a subsequent US intelligence assessment. Prince Mohammed has denied any involvement in the murder, including the allegation that he gave approval for it to be carried out by government agents.