Overview
- President Donald Trump told reporters he is considering a U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia ahead of next week’s White House meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- Saudi Arabia has requested roughly 48 F-35s in a multibillion-dollar package, according to multiple reports.
- A Defense Intelligence Agency assessment warned that sensitive F-35 technology could reach China through espionage or security ties to Riyadh, U.S. media reported.
- Israeli officials say a sale should proceed only as part of full normalization with Israel and are pressing for basing and deployment limits to protect Israel’s qualitative military edge.
- U.S. officials hope for progress around the meeting, though gaps remain over Saudi demands for a clear path toward Palestinian statehood and Israel’s security safeguards.