‘A Great Ally’: Before Prince Salman’s White House Visit, Trump Confirms F-35 Sale To Saudi Arabia

Last Updated:November 18, 2025, 02:43 IST

US President Donald Trump called Saudi Arabia a “great ally” of the United States.

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during a welcoming ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

US President Donald Trump on Monday showered praise on West Asian ally Saudi Arabia, calling the nation a “great ally" and confirmed the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the country, a day before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s White House visit.

“We will be doing that. We will be selling F-35s," Trump told reporters when asked if Washington would agree to sell Riyadh the jets at Tuesday’s meeting. “They’ve been a great ally," he added.

Salman is scheduled to visit the White House on Tuesday. A report by the Associated Press said that the Saudi royal “was widely expected to arrive with a wishlist". The wishlist includes assurances from Trump on the scope of US military protection for the kingdom along with the deal to purchase US-made F-35 fighter jets.

The F-35 is currently the world’s most advanced multirole fighter jet, combining stealth, electronic warfare and real-time battlefield awareness in one platform. Countries that acquire it instantly gain a major leap in air-power capabilities.

The F-35 does the work of several aircraft — air combat, strike missions, surveillance and electronic warfare — making it the most sought-after fighter in modern military aviation.

The Republican administration, according to AP, has been cautious about taking any step that could undermine Israel’s “qualitative military advantage" in the region. Israeli security is a sensitive issue at a time when Trump is relying heavily on Israeli support for his Gaza peace plan.

A long-standing concern for Washington, which had previously derailed a similar proposed sale to the United Arab Emirates, is the risk that F-35 technology could be stolen or transferred to China. Beijing maintains close ties with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, raising red flags within the US security establishment.

However, according to a report by Axios, Israel is not opposed to the US selling F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, but wants any deal to be tied to Riyadh formally normalising relations with the Jewish state, two Israeli officials told the news outlet.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has covered se...Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has covered se...

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News world ‘A Great Ally’: Before Prince Salman’s White House Visit, Trump Confirms F-35 Sale To Saudi Arabia

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