The US government is reviewing Saudi Arabia's request to buy nearly 50 F-35 fighters, according to a source familiar with the negotiations process.
This is an stealth fighter produced by lockheed Martin, considered the most advanced today. If approved, the deal could be worth billions of dollars and mark a major shift in Washington's arms policy towards Riyadh.
The Pentagon's request to buy 48 F-35s has passed an important assessment step and the dossier has now been submitted to the ministerial level, the source said. Saudi Arabia has previously directly proposed to US President Donald Trump, expressing its desire to modernize the air force and deal with threats in the region. The country is the largest arms buyer in the US and is currently operating F-15s.
However, the final decision has not been made. The dossier must go through many steps, including cabinet approval, the approval of President Donald Trump and notification to the US Congress. Some lawmakers have expressed skepticism about strengthening military cooperation with Riyadh, especially after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Considering selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia is considered sensitive because Washington must ensure maintaining Israel's " superior military advantage" in the Middle East. Israel is currently the only country in the region to own the F-35 and has operated many flocks for nearly a decade. This principle makes the US always consider carefully when selling advanced weapons to Arab countries.
Under President Donald Trump, promoting arms exports has been a priority in relations with Saudi Arabia. In May, Washington agreed a nearly $142 billion arms sale package to Riyadh, described by the White House as the largest defense cooperation deal ever between the two sides.
Saudi Arabia's continued pursuit of the F-35 is also part of a military and economic modernization strategy under the Vision 2030 program promoted by Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Previously, the Biden administration considered including the F-35 in a larger deal aimed at the possibility of Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel, but this process did not achieve a breakthrough.
In the context of Saudi Arabia seeking to diversify defense relations but still maintaining a long-term security alliance with Washington, the F-35 deal, if approved, will have a strong impact on the military balance in the Middle East and mark a significant expansion of cooperation between the two countries.
