US President Donald Trump announced plans to sell the US's most advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. He stated this during a conversation with journalists at the White House on November 17.
Trump is expected to receive Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on November 18. If the F-35 sale goes through, it could represent a serious shift in Washington's policy of ensuring Israel's "qualitative military edge."
According to Reuters, the Saudi kingdom has approached the US about purchasing up to 48 F-35s, and the potential multi-billion dollar deal has passed key stages at the Pentagon. Saudi Arabia aims to modernize its air force and counter regional threats, particularly from Iran, with these aircraft.
However, some lawmakers in Congress may oppose this sale — there has been sharp criticism regarding arms exports to Saudi Arabia following the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
The F-35 is one of the world's most advanced fighter jets, featuring stealth technology that allows it to evade enemy radars. Currently, the only country in the Middle East that possesses this system is Israel.
