Payam Javan: President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening America’s strategic partnerships by announcing the upcoming sale of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia, a move he framed as both economically beneficial for the United States and vital for regional security. Speaking confidently from the White House, Trump emphasized that the deal reflects his administration’s bold approach to American leadership abroad, contrasting sharply with what he has often described as the hesitant foreign-policy posture of his successors.
The announcement comes just before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, signaling a renewed push to solidify ties with Riyadh. For years, security concerns and political hesitations have limited Middle Eastern participation in the F-35 program, with Turkey removed from the project in 2019 for its cooperation with Russia, and President Joe Biden freezing the UAE’s F-35 purchase in 2021. Trump’s decision breaks from this pattern, positioning the United States once again as a confident global supplier of advanced defense technology.
Israel remains the only Middle Eastern operator of the F-35, giving it a significant military edge. Trump’s move to integrate Saudi Arabia more deeply into the U.S. defense ecosystem is seen by supporters as a strategic masterstroke, one aimed at stabilizing the region through strength rather than ambiguity. The sale, however, also requires careful navigation of competing interests, especially given Israel’s longstanding security concerns and the kingdom’s stance on Palestinian statehood.
Still, Trump has made it clear he wants Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, the signature diplomatic achievement of his first term. Despite stalled progress following the events of October 7 and the Gaza conflict, Trump maintains that renewed U.S. leadership could bring Riyadh closer to normalization with Israel. While Saudi officials insist on movement toward a Palestinian state—something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes, Trump’s supporters believe his decisive diplomacy offers the best chance for breaking the deadlock and reshaping the region.
