Trump announces US approval to sell F35 jets to Saudi Arabia for first time
US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will supply Saudi Arabia with fifth-generation F35 fighter jets for the first time, reflecting enhanced defense cooperation with Riyadh.
“For the first time, we announced that the kingdom is a major non-NATO ally, and for the first time we agreed to sell the F35 to Saudi Arabia,” Trump said at an investment forum in Miami… The F35s are amazing and we are selling them at a very moderate price”.
The announcement follows Trump’s previous statements in November 2025, when he was preparing to receive Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, where he announced his readiness to sell planes to Saudi Arabia.
On November 18, Trump received the crown prince at the White House and reiterated his position.
Potential Challenges US media reports suggest that this deal could face some difficulties, especially with Israel not approving the sale.
However, Trump’s announcement confirms that the deal will go ahead, at a time when the region is witnessing a military escalation as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues for the 28th day in a row.
The F35 is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, and it has advanced technological capabilities that are subject to strict export controls.
Washington’s approval of its sale to Saudi Arabia comes as part of enhanced defense cooperation with a key non-NATO ally.
