President Donald Trump said Friday he is considering a deal to sell Saudi Arabia advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin.
Trump is deliberating the sale ahead of welcoming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House next week for negotiations on new economic and defense agreements.
In a press gaggle aboard Air Force One, Trump noted Saudi interest in the acquisition.
He said he is looking into the sale.
“They’ve asked me to look at it,” Trump said. “They want to buy a lot of 35, but they want to buy actually more than that fighter jet, too.”
The F-35, which features state-of-the-art stealth, sensor integration, and versatility, has been a key asset for the United States and allied forces.
Saudi Arabia is aiming to modernize its fleet against threats from Iran and Yemen-based Houthis. The deal would require congressional review.
Trump described the upcoming engagement with the crown prince as “more than a meeting, we’re honoring” Saudi Arabia.
Trump is pushing for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, created during his first term to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab states, such as the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. He reiterated his hope for Riyadh’s participation, though Saudi officials want a clear path to Palestinian statehood before joining.
Reuters contributed to this report.
