Trump approves F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli objections
November 19, 2025
The Saudi crown prince is in Washington, meeting President Trump, where he discussed purchasing the F-35. Trump has indicated his willingness to sell the jets, but many in Washington staunchly oppose the move due to Chinese spying and Israeli security concerns.
Trump to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia
AGN previously reported that Saudi Arabia was planning to ask the United States to purchase up to 48 F-35s. To no one’s surprise, Trump appears willing to sell the jet to Saudi Arabia. According to the Defence Index, Saudi Arabia is also purchasing 60 F-15EX fighter jets.
When asked, Trump stated, “Yeah, I am planning on doing it. They’ve been a great ally… We’ll be selling F-35s.”
As Trump met the crown prince, one reporter asked, “Are the F-35 jets going to Saudi Arabia the same as the ones going to Israel?” Trump replied, “Yes. Both should get top of the line.”
While Trump seems to talk about the F-35 as a commodity to sell and award those who have pleased him, many in Washington are afraid that selling the jet to Saudi Arabia would allow China to steal information while also undermining the key US ally, Israel.
Reporter: Are the F-35 jets going to Saudi Arabia same as the ones going to Israel?
— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 18, 2025
Trump: Yes. Both should get top of the line. pic.twitter.com/UpI8olqMnK
Israel currently has 45 of the jets in service with another 30 on order. They played a central role in dismantling Iran’s Russian-supplied S-300 air defence and gaining air dominance over Iran with no fighter jet losses on the Israeli side.
Israel is opposed to the sale of F-35s
Israel is currently the only operator of the F-35 in the Middle East. As the F-35 is the world’s most advanced fighter jet, this gives Israel a significant technological edge over its neighbours in the region.
Reporting from Israel on the possible sale has ranged from opposition to not being opposed if Saudi Arabia recognises Israel.
In one article, The Times of Israel reported, “The Israeli Air Force presented an explicit objection to the US’s potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a formal position paper.”
Saudi Arabia has been introducing many liberal reforms since Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) took power, and it has been paving the way to recognise Israel for years. The Bahrain recognition of Israel in 2020 was seen as happening with Saudi Arabia’s blessing.
U.S. President #Trump says he is willing to sell F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets to #SaudiArabia — even though Riyadh still refuses to make peace with #Israel or join the Abraham Accords.
— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) November 17, 2025
Let me be clear: Saudi Arabia will never receive the F-35. The #UAE didn’t get it, and neither will Riyadh.
Even if it signs a peace deal with Israel, one obstacle remains impossible to ignore — its close strategic partnership with #China.
Washington will not risk the world’s most sensitive fifth-generation technology leaking to Beijing.
However, MBS has to be careful how he steers the conservative kingdom, and efforts to recognise Israel have been derailed or delayed by the war in Gaza. Saudi Arabia has indicated it is not ready to recognise Israel at this time, and the sale of F-35s does not appear to be linked to the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords.
Get the latest aerospace defence news here on AGN.
A growing list of failed F-35 sales
In his first term in office, Trump showed his willingness to sell the F-35 to countries that others in Washington were unwilling to. He announced the sale of 20 F-35s to Egypt and 50 to the United Arab Emirates. On returning to office, he offered the F-35 to India.
The UAE sale was tied to the Abraham Accords and the recognition of Israel. Later, the UAE complained about “onerous” conditions the US placed on the sale, and the deal floundered; it also floundered in Egypt.
India also dismissed the F-35, although it’s unclear why. India operates the Russian S-400 air defence system. Purchasing the S-400 was the reason why the US cancelled the sale of F-35s to Turkey.
No, Trump Can’t Just Hand Saudi Arabia F-35s, here Are the big blockers
— Brian BJ (@iamBrianBJ) November 18, 2025
Trump personally wants the sale of F35's and is now publicly committing to push it. He’s been saying versions of this since 2017. It’s classic Trump salesmanship + desire for a foreign-policy win.
But not so fast Trump, .Why Trump cannot decide this alone:
◾️U.S. federal law mandates Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME). Any sale triggers a formal assessment; Israel has an effective veto and already said publicly last week: “F-35s only if explicitly tied to Saudi normalization.”
◾️Congress gets mandatory 30-day notification on major arms sales. Khashoggi + Yemen + recent intel reports flagging Chinese tech-leak risks through Saudi channels mean massive bipartisan pushback. They can easily overrule Trump
◾️The jets are not approved, no Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) exists, and nothing can be signed tomorrow
Realistic outcome: Trump promises, congress and Pentagon override unless Israel gets a huge ocmpensation to maintain the militairy upper hand (QME) or if Saudi Arabia gets like a less sensitive epxert version stripped form most sensitive systems. Trump just wrote another cheque his administration can’t cash yet.
Even if Trump okays the sale of the F-35 to Saudi Arabia, there is no guarantee the kingdom will ever receive them. Many others in Washington may work to ensure it doesn’t happen just as they have done before.
Get the latest aerospace defence news here on AGN.
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