President Trump Says US Will Sell F-35 Fighter Jets To Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA - President Donald Trump said on Monday he plans to approve the sale of US-made F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, speaking a day before hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"I would say we would do that," President Trump told reporters in the Oval Room of the White House.

"We will sell the F-35 (combat jet)," he said.

The sale will mark a significant policy change, potentially changing the military balance in the Middle East and test Washington's definition of maintaining Israel's "qualitative military advantage".

Saudi Arabia is known to have asked to buy as many as 48 F-35 fighters, a billion-dollar deal that has passed the Pentagon's main hurdles ahead of Prince MBS' visit, Reuters reported earlier this month.

A senior White House official told Reuters prior to his comments, President Trump wanted to talk to the crown prince about the jet, "then we will make a decision."

Saudi Arabia, the largest US gun customer, has been looking for the fighter for years as it wants to modernize its air force and counter regional threats.

A new royal push for what will be the two squadrons of fighter jets comes as the Trump Administration has signaled openness to deepen defense cooperation with Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia submitted a direct application to buy the jets earlier this year to President Trump.

The Pentagon's policy department has been reviewing the potential for this transaction for months, US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity earlier told Reuters.

Washington is considering arms sales to the Middle East in a way that ensures Israel maintains "qualitative military advantage". This guarantees Israel obtains more sophisticated US weapons than Arab countries in the region.

The F-35, which is built with stealth technology that allows it to evade enemy detection, is considered the world's most advanced fighter jet. Israel has operated the aircraft for nearly a decade, built several squadrons, and remains the only Middle Eastern country that has the weapons system.

Previously, the issue of selling F-35 fighter jets had also been discussed in the Joe Biden Administration era as part of a comprehensive agreement to normalize Saudi Arabia's relations with Israel.

However, congressional scrutiny could pose challenges to the sale of the F-35. Lawmakers previously questioned the arms deal with Riyadh following the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, with some members of Congress remaining vigilant to deepen military cooperation with the kingdom.