US Approves Sale of 48 F-35 Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a deal valued at $24.3 billion. The agreement, announced by the department, also includes 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communication equipment, and maintenance parts.

In a notification to Congress, the U.S. stated the sale would not alter the military balance in the Middle East. Instead, it is intended to enhance Saudi Arabia's ability to deter threats by strengthening its homeland defenses and improving cooperation with U.S. forces, other regional partners, and NATO. The sale aims to increase Saudi Arabia's operational aircraft fleet and bolster its self-defense capabilities in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.

This major arms deal was initially announced by former President Donald Trump in November of the previous year, just before hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. At the time, the announcement was seen as a setback for Israel, which had hoped the sale would be linked to a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia and was concerned about advanced arms sales potentially impacting its air superiority in the region.

Adding a layer of complexity, the New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence officials have warned that China could exploit its close ties with Saudi Arabia to spy on the sensitive technology associated with the F-35 jets. A Pentagon Defense Intelligence Agency report, predating Trump's announcement, had already cautioned about potential Chinese espionage.

Saudi Arabia is a significant purchaser of U.S. military equipment but also collaborates with China on security matters, including the purchase of ballistic missiles. Reports indicate China is also assisting Saudi Arabia in developing its own ballistic missile program. The deal and the intelligence concerns emerge amidst escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who recently seized the Bab el-Mandeb strait, potentially complicating Saudi oil exports. Additionally, Iran-aligned militias in Iraq have targeted a strategic oil pipeline that Saudi Arabia used to bypass Iranian blockades in the Strait of Hormuz.