Ahead of Prince Salman’s White House Visit, Trump Clears F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia

US President Donald Trump on Monday praised Saudi Arabia as a “great ally” and confirmed.

That Washington would move ahead with the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the kingdom — a day before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives at the White House.

Asked whether the US would approve the sale during Tuesday’s meeting, Trump said, “We will be doing that. We will be selling F-35s. They’ve been a great ally.”

Prince Mohammed is scheduled to meet Trump on Tuesday. According to an Associated Press report, the Saudi royal is expected to arrive with a detailed wishlist, including assurances on the extent of US security guarantees for the kingdom and a formal green light for the purchase of US-made F-35s.

The F-35, considered the world’s most advanced multirole fighter, offers unmatched stealth, electronic-warfare capabilities and real-time battlefield awareness — effectively replacing several specialised aircraft with a single platform. Its acquisition represents a significant leap in air-power capabilities.

However, the sale remains sensitive in Washington. Successive US administrations have been cautious about any move that could erode Israel’s qualitative military advantage in the region — a long-standing policy pillar. The concern has grown sharper as Trump leans heavily on Israeli backing for his Gaza peace plan.

Another major sticking point is the risk of F-35 technology leaking to China. Washington has previously derailed a similar sale to the United Arab Emirates over fears that Beijing’s close ties with both Abu Dhabi and Riyadh could expose sensitive US defence systems.

Yet, according to Axios, Israel is not opposed to an F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia — provided any agreement is linked to Riyadh formally normalising relations with the Jewish state, two Israeli officials told the outlet.