State Department OKs potential $24B fighter jet sale to Saudis
The package covers 48 jets and related equipment as U.S. officials weigh risks that Chinese access could expose sensitive military technology.
- On Thursday, the State Department approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 Lockheed Martin-made F-35s to Saudi Arabia, making the kingdom the first Arab country to purchase the advanced fighter jets.
- President Trump promised the sale before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed's November White House visit, though the proposal must still undergo a mandatory 30-day review by Congress before finalization.
- The State Department said the sale "supports the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States" by improving security for a major non-NATO ally in the Gulf region.
- Jonathan Ruhe, a fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, called the deal "a categorically bad idea" without guardrails on Riyadh's military cooperation with China.
- While Israel did not strongly object to the F-35 sale, concerns about Chinese spying persist, echoing a failed UAE deal during Trump's first term that collapsed over similar security fears.
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El Periódico
diarioestrategia.clThe U.S. government has notified Congress of its intention to sell to Saudi Arabia about half a hundred F35 fighters in an unprecedented operation that could reach a value of up to $24.3 billion (over 21,160 million euros).Continue reading...
The interest in F-35 fighter jets is huge. Not only Germany expects the cover-cap jets to be delivered from the USA - Saudi Arabia is planning a billion-dollar purchase, too. US allies Israel should not enjoy this.
The US State Department said on Thursday that the United States has approved the sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for $24.3 billion (€21.2 billion).
US moves ahead with $24.3 billion F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia despite China concerns
The deal would give Saudi Arabia a fleet of 48 F-35s, comparable in size to Israel's 50, testing Washington's longstanding pledge to preserve Israel's "qualitative military edge" in the region
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