Trump Confirms U.S. Will Sell F-35 Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia, Sparking Israeli Security Concerns

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday evening that the United States intends to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, in what could become one of the most significant arms deals in recent years. “Yes, I plan to do it. They want to buy it,” Trump said. “They’re a great ally. They probably really like us.”

The announcement immediately sparked concern within Israel’s defense establishment, which views the move as a potential threat to Israel’s qualitative military edge — a cornerstone of U.S. defense policy in the Middle East for decades.

Israeli Defense Officials: “A Dangerous Move”

Senior Israeli defense officials told reporters that the deal could compromise Israel’s air supremacy and expose sensitive technologies embedded in the IDF’s own F-35 fleet.

According to them, the Saudi acquisition may allow access to advanced software, systems, and operational methods that were developed jointly with the United States and customized for the Israeli Air Force.

“From Israel’s perspective, this is a dangerous move,” one senior source said, warning that it may signal a shift in U.S. policy regarding the preservation of Israel’s regional military advantage.

Until now, Washington has adhered to the long-standing commitment to maintain Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) — ensuring that U.S. arms sales in the region do not diminish Israel’s superiority. Defense sources say it is unclear whether this understanding will continue to hold if the Saudi deal goes through.

Broader Strategic Implications

Last month, the Financial Times reported that Riyadh was in discussions with the Trump administration on a defense pact modeled on NATO principles. Under the proposed arrangement, any attack on Saudi Arabia would be treated as a threat to U.S. security, similar to an agreement Washington signed with Qatar in September.

Israeli officials are particularly troubled by the prospect that the F-35 sale could proceed independently of any normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia — or without Israel receiving any compensatory guarantees regarding a future Palestinian state.

“The most worrisome scenario is that Saudi Arabia receives the jets without normalization or clear political conditions attached,” a senior official said.

From Normalization to Strategic Tension

Before the October 7 Hamas attack, Israel and Saudi Arabia were on the verge of a landmark normalization deal, facilitated by the Biden administration. Riyadh’s demands included a NATO-style defense alliance, advanced U.S. weaponry, and assistance with a civilian nuclear program.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s support was considered essential for congressional approval of the pact, which also had Republican backing. A key cabinet meeting scheduled for October 8, 2023, to discuss the deal was canceled after the Hamas assault on southern Israel, and negotiations have since been frozen.

In retrospect, several Hamas officials claimed the attack’s timing was partly motivated by a desire to thwart Israeli-Saudi normalization.

Washington’s Concerns: Technology Leaks to China

Sources in Washington told the Associated Press that it remains uncertain whether President Trump will ultimately approve the deal, despite his remarks. Officials in the Pentagon and the intelligence community have voiced concerns that China could gain access to the F-35’s sensitive technologies through its close defense ties with Saudi Arabia.

A recent Pentagon intelligence report, cited by The New York Times, warned that China’s deepening relationships across the Gulf states were a major factor in blocking a similar F-35 sale to the United Arab Emirates in 2023.

Strategic Crossroads

If completed, the F-35 sale would reshape power dynamics in the Middle East, with Israel facing a region in which its once-exclusive fifth-generation fighter jet is now shared by a rival power.

For Washington, the decision highlights the delicate balance between strengthening alliances in the Arab world and safeguarding Israel’s strategic dominance — a balance that may define U.S. policy in the region for years to come.