The United States has given the green light to a proposed $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This move, which still requires approval from the US Congress, represents a significant step in expanding military cooperation between Washington and Riyadh.
According to the US State Department, this arms deal is intended to bolster Saudi Arabia’s capacity to deter threats, enhance its air defense systems, and improve interoperability with US forces. The department emphasized that the sale would not disrupt the military balance in the Middle East, aligning with US policy to ensure that Israel maintains a military advantage over regional adversaries.
The prospect of selling F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia has been a longstanding goal for Riyadh, though it has previously faced opposition from Israel, the only Middle Eastern nation currently operating the advanced jets. Concerns have been raised by Israeli officials regarding the potential implications of such a sale to Saudi Arabia.
This proposed agreement is part of a broader pattern of US arms transactions with Saudi Arabia, which have included approvals for the sale of various military equipment, such as bombs, tank engines, and technology designed to enhance the precision of rocket systems.
The F-35 deal is expected to undergo rigorous examination in Congress, with particular attention likely focused on the safeguarding of sensitive US military technology and the implications of Saudi Arabia’s increasing ties with China.
