Trump administration clears way for sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia

The US State Department has approved the proposed sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, valued at approximately $24.3 billion. This sale, pending congressional approval, aims to bolster the security of a vital non-NATO ally and bolster political stability and economic growth in the Gulf region, according to a statement from the State Department on Thursday.

The administration maintains that this sale will not upset the existing military balance in the Middle East, emphasizing a longstanding US policy that ensures Israel maintains a military edge in the region. Saudi Arabia hailed the proposed sale as a testament to the enduring strength and stability of its relationship with the US, highlighting existing defense partnerships.

The embassy in Washington noted that decades of Saudi-US security cooperation have enhanced regional stability, bolstered collective defense capabilities, and advanced shared security interests. Saudi Arabia has consistently sought to purchase F-35 jets, the most advanced US fighter aircraft, but Israel, the sole country in the region to possess such jets, has opposed the sale to the kingdom due to strained relations.

Israel has not yet commented on the State Department's announcement. The news of the deal comes ten months after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Washington, where President Trump indicated the US would permit the sale, stressing Saudi Arabia's status as a major non-NATO ally. Currently, Saudi Arabia is embroiled in a conflict with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have seized the country's entire western coast and gained unprecedented access to the Red Sea and Bab Al Mandeb strait.

There have been recent Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, with reports indicating the rebels have been in communication with US officials to assure Washington that their advancements will not result in attacks on American ships.