F-35 fighter jets approval tops agenda as Trump hosts Saudi crown prince

Washington: President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States will sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, setting the stage for a high-stakes White House visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at expanding defence, energy and technology ties.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s meetings, Trump said the kingdom would be cleared to purchase the stealth aircraft, long sought by Riyadh but previously held back over security concerns and sensitivities around Israel’s military edge. “We’ll be selling F-35s,” Trump told reporters, calling Saudi Arabia “a great ally.”

The announcement marks the centrepiece of a visit that will see Trump host the crown prince with full ceremonial honours, including a gala dinner and military welcome — his first trip to the US in more than seven years. It also signals Washington’s effort to strengthen strategic alignment with Riyadh as both sides attempt to reshape the regional security landscape after the Gaza war.

Beyond the jets, the two countries are expected to unveil agreements covering US–Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation, expanded investment in American artificial intelligence infrastructure, and further coordination on regional security.

A senior US official said the crown prince arrives with a clear set of priorities: formal assurances of American military protection, access to advanced air and missile defence systems, progress on a framework for civil nuclear energy, and deeper technology partnerships — including access to the high-end chips Saudi Arabia needs for its AI drive.

For Trump, the visit is an opportunity to push forward his long-standing effort to widen the Abraham Accords. He has repeatedly said that securing a Saudi–Israel agreement would be the “grand prize” of Middle East diplomacy. “I hope that Saudi Arabia will be going into the Abraham Accords very shortly,” Trump said last week.

However, US officials acknowledge that Riyadh’s position remains firm: a clear path toward Palestinian statehood must be established before any move toward normalisation. That stance has been unchanged since the 2023 outbreak of the Gaza conflict. The UN Security Council this week approved a US plan for Gaza that authorises an international stabilisation force and envisions a political horizon for a future Palestinian state — a development that both Washington and Riyadh will watch closely.

Still, Trump and the crown prince are expected to use the visit to demonstrate a renewed partnership after years of limited engagement. It comes as Saudi Arabia seeks more robust security guarantees following regional tensions and as it accelerates economic diversification under Vision 2030, with major investments planned in mining, tourism, technology and logistics.

US officials say the crown prince’s visit will also include an investment forum at the Kennedy Centre on Wednesday featuring leaders from key American companies, including Salesforce, Qualcomm, Pfizer, Chevron, the Cleveland Clinic and Saudi Aramco. Additional commercial announcements are likely, particularly in energy transition and digital infrastructure.

Yet the F-35 sale remains the most high-profile signal of Trump’s commitment to resetting ties. Even with the president’s political support, the aircraft will take years to negotiate, certify and deliver, with congressional approval required and questions still lingering about technology safeguards and Israel’s qualitative military edge.

For now, Trump’s message is one of unmistakable warmth: “We’re honouring Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince,” he said — encapsulating the tone of a visit intended to publicly elevate one of Washington’s most consequential strategic partnerships.

- with inputs from agencies