Trump to Weigh Security Guarantees, F-35 Sale as Saudi Crown Prince Visits White House
WASHINGTON – President Trump is preparing for a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) focused on potential security assurances for the kingdom and a possible agreement for the sale of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, administration officials say. The visit comes amid heightened regional tensions following the recent truce in Gaza and ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The crown prince is expected to request formal U.S. commitments defining the scope of military protection for Saudi Arabia, alongside an agreement to purchase the advanced F-35 aircraft. However, as of preparations concluding, the administration appeared hesitant to approve the fighter jet sale.
A key concern for the administration is maintaining Israel‘s “qualitative military advantage” in the region, especially as trump seeks Israeli support for his Gaza peace plan.Another obstacle is the risk of F-35 technology falling into the hands of China, given China’s close ties with both Saudi Arabia and the United arab Emirates – a similar concern previously blocking a sale to the UAE.
The potential for normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is also a central element of the discussions. Jonathan Schanzer, executive director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted, “Provided that the scenes on Saudi television continue to be scenes of devastation and misery in Gaza, I think it’s going to be very hard for MBS to move in this direction.” However, Schanzer added that Saudi Arabia has previously demonstrated a capacity to advance regional normalization efforts.
According to Hannah, a senior fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America and former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, the crown prince’s demands for normalization have increased following the events in Gaza. Hannah cautioned against yielding leverage, stating, “I think it would be folly not to insist that the ultimate integration of these planes into the Saudi order of battle be tied to normalization and a more basic and permanent transformation in Saudi-Israel relations and the regional security landscape.”
the administration officials acknowledged Trump’s history of unpredictability, leaving open the possibility he could approve the F-35 sale if persuaded by the crown prince.
