The U.S. is set to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump confirmed to reporters ahead of a White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“We will be doing that. We will be selling F-35 jets,” Trump said, adding that Saudi Arabia has been “a great ally.”
The two leaders are expected to discuss defense and civilian nuclear power agreements during the meeting, marking the first visit by the crown prince to the White House since journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered by Saudi agents seven years ago.
A U.S. intelligence report concluded that Prince Mohammed approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s death, though the crown prince has denied any involvement. The last time the prince visited the U.S. was in 2018, the same year as Khashoggi’s murder in Istanbul.
While President Joe Biden refrained from meeting with the crown prince during his time in office and promised to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” over its human rights record, he did visit Saudi Arabia in 2022. During that visit, Biden said he raised the issue of Khashoggi’s killing.
Trump and the crown prince previously met in Riyadh in May, where the U.S. agreed to a landmark $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, described by the White House as the largest defense sales agreement in history. This deal was part of a broader $600 billion investment package. Saudi Arabia remains the U.S.’s largest customer for military equipment.
Some U.S. defense officials have expressed concerns about the sale of the F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, fearing it could provide the kingdom access to sensitive stealth technology. There are worries that Saudi Arabia could potentially share this technology with China, given the security ties between the two countries.
Israeli officials also have reservations about the deal, with some voicing concerns that it could undermine Israel’s military advantage in the region. Israel is the U.S.’s closest ally in the Middle East and the only country in the region currently equipped with F-35s.
Each F-35A jet is priced at approximately $82.5 million, according to its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.
During the meeting, Trump is also expected to urge Saudi Arabia to sign the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel. However, Saudi officials have said they would only do so if there is progress toward establishing a Palestinian state, a condition the current Israeli government does not support.