President Donald Trump today formally approved the sale of U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, finalizing a major defense agreement during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s high-profile visit to the White House. The decision marks one of the most significant U.S.–Saudi military deals in recent years and underscores Washington’s intent to tighten its strategic partnership with Riyadh.
According to reporting earlier this week, the administration had been leaning toward supporting the sale of up to 48 F-35 aircraft, a package worth billions of dollars. Trump confirmed the approval during a joint appearance with the crown prince, saying, “We’ll be doing that. We’ll be selling the F-35s,” solidifying what officials called a “cornerstone component” of ongoing security cooperation. Pentagon officials have voiced concerns about sensitive defense technology, particularly given Saudi Arabia’s expanding relationship with China, but the White House moved forward regardless.
The meeting also advanced a series of long-term economic initiatives stemming from Trump’s May 2025 trip to Riyadh. During that earlier visit, Saudi Arabia pledged to invest $600 billion in U.S. energy, technology, and infrastructure projects — a commitment both leaders reiterated today as central to their shared economic agenda. The broader U.S.–Saudi arms portfolio, valued at roughly $142 billion, remains intact.
Still, the renewed partnership has drawn criticism from rights advocates and several members of Congress, who continue to cite concerns over the kingdom’s human-rights record, including the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump and MBS did not address those criticisms directly, instead emphasizing regional stability and joint efforts to counter shared threats.
Officials said the leaders also discussed diplomatic efforts across the Middle East, with the U.S. encouraging continued dialogue on potential Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords, though Riyadh insists any normalization must be linked to progress on Palestinian statehood.
Today’s meeting signals a clear intention by both governments to expand a transactional, investment-driven partnership that blends military cooperation with large-scale economic commitments.
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