US Approves Sale of 48 F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia for $24.3 Billion

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, along with 49 spare engines, in a deal valued at $24.3 billion. The Trump administration had previously announced the potential sale in November of last year, just before a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The State Department stated that the proposed sale will not alter the military balance in the region. It further asserted that the deal will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a key non-NATO ally, which it described as a force for political stability and economic progress in the Persian Gulf. The sale is intended to improve Saudi Arabia's ability to deter current and future threats.

The decision now moves to Congress for final approval, where it is expected to be decided soon. When the deal was initially announced, Israel viewed it as a blow, primarily due to concerns that the sale of advanced aircraft to Saudi Arabia could undermine Israel's air superiority. Jerusalem had hoped the deal would progress as part of a broader initiative leading to normalization, but this has not materialized.