US President Donald Trump revealed yesterday that he is actively considering a deal to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
“They wanna buy a lot of jets,” Trump said to reporters aboard Air Force One. “I’m looking at that. They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of ‘35’ — but they actually want even more fighter jets.”
The potential agreement comes ahead of a White House visit next week by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the visit, both leaders are expected to finalize economic and defense deals that could shape regional security and trade relations.
Speaking about the talks, Trump described the upcoming meetings as “more than meeting, we’re honouring” Saudi Arabia, signaling a focus on strengthening bilateral ties.
Trump also expressed hope that Saudi Arabia might soon join the Abraham Accords, which have facilitated normalization between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations. However, Riyadh has maintained it will only consider such a move once a clear roadmap for Palestinian statehood is agreed upon.
The proposed F-35 sale has drawn scrutiny. According to a Pentagon intelligence report cited by the New York Times, there are concerns that China could gain access to sensitive technology if the deal moves forward.
As the discussions unfold, the world watches closely. Beyond the politics and military strategy, there’s a human story here—leaders negotiating, nations planning, and the high stakes of global diplomacy that could affect millions.
