Trump Signals Potential F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia, Challenging Long-Standing US Policy
WASHINGTON D.C. – In a move that breaks with decades of US policy, President Donald Trump has indicated his willingness to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The announcement came ahead of an expected visit to Washington by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and signals a potential shift in the balance of power in the Middle East. Currently, Israel is the sole operator of the F-35 in the region.
The United States has historically maintained a policy of providing Israel with a qualitative military edge, ensuring it retains its regional superiority. Selling the F-35 – a state-of-the-art stealth aircraft – to Saudi Arabia would represent a significant departure from this doctrine. According to reports, the Trump administration believes the sale is possible with the consent of Israeli Prime Minister benjamin Netanyahu.
“They want to buy a lot of F-35s, but they also actually want more than this fighter jet,” Trump told reporters, hinting at broader potential arms deals.
Saudi Arabia has long been a major purchaser of US weaponry, consistently ranking as the largest buyer according to the Stockholm International peace Research Institute (Sipri). Tho, recent years have seen increased scrutiny from the US Congress regarding arms sales to the Kingdom, especially due to its involvement in the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
The potential sale also comes despite significant diplomatic tensions stemming from the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post and vocal critic of the Saudi government. US intelligence agencies concluded that Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, often referred to as MBS, was likely behind the assassination, which took place at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi’s body has never been recovered.
Despite the controversy surrounding Khashoggi’s death, Trump has consistently maintained support for Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in riyadh on the evening before his visit to Washington with a high-ranking delegation, according to the Saudi press agency SAP, anticipating discussions regarding advanced weapons technology, including the F-35.
Source: ntv.de, lme/dpa (as originally reported)