Trump Administration Asks Congress to Approve $24.3bn F-35 Fighter Jet Deal for Saudi Arabia

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has formally submitted a request to lawmakers in Congress to approve the sale of 48 advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a defense transaction valued at an estimated $24.3 billion.

Outlining the rationale behind the major arms package, the US State Department stated on Thursday that the proposed transfer aligns with the foreign policy and national security priorities of the United States. US officials underscored that delivering the aircraft would enhance the defensive readiness of a key non-NATO ally that functions as an important anchor for political stability and economic progress across the Gulf region.

The multi-billion-dollar proposal would supply Riyadh with the most technologically advanced fighter aircraft currently operational within the American military inventory. Despite the scale of the transfer, the Trump administration maintained that delivering the stealth multirole aircraft would not alter the existing balance of military power in the Middle East.

This assessment reflects a longstanding US foreign policy doctrine requiring Washington to guarantee that Israel maintains a qualitative military edge over any prospective adversaries in the region. Israel currently remains the only state in the Middle East to possess operational F-35 stealth jets, and Israeli officials have voiced persistent apprehensions regarding the potential sale of the advanced aircraft to Riyadh, even amidst broader diplomatic initiatives aimed at encouraging the kingdom to normalise bilateral relations.

The formal notification to Capitol Hill comes at a critical juncture marked by intensifying military confrontations between Saudi armed forces and the Houthi movement in neighbouring Yemen.

Just prior to the US announcement, Houthi fighters claimed to have shot down a Saudi-operated F-15 fighter aircraft over Marib, a pivotal battleground city where the group has been engaged in protracted clashes against Saudi-backed Yemeni government troops. The Houthi movement substantiated its claim by releasing video footage showing armed fighters standing near the fiery wreckage of what appeared to be an American-made F-15 combat jet bearing distinct Saudi military insignia.

Houthi representatives stated that the Saudi warplane was brought down using an indigenously manufactured surface-to-air missile. If confirmed, the deployment of such domestic anti-aircraft capability would represent a notable tactical evolution in the group’s combat reach, directly challenging the air superiority that the Saudi military has long maintained and relied upon to conduct regular air raids across Yemen.

The recent spike in cross-border hostilities has exacted a severe toll on the ground, with escalating exchanges between Saudi forces and the Houthis reportedly leaving at least five people dead, including three children.

Faced with mounting operational challenges along its southern border, Saudi Arabia has unsuccessfully sought to persuade Washington to take on a more direct military role in its ongoing campaign. However, the United States has explicitly ruled out direct military intervention in the armed conflict between the Iran-aligned Houthis, Saudi Arabia, and the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

In addition to battlefield developments in the region, the prospective arms package faces considerable scrutiny in Washington over concerns related to intelligence security and Chinese technological espionage.

According to reporting by The New York Times, US intelligence analysts have warned that Beijing could potentially access or exploit sensitive F-35 technological data through its growing economic and technological partnerships with Riyadh.

These intelligence assessments have sparked sharp resistance among lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, publicly voiced strong opposition to the proposed arms deal on national security grounds, arguing that the transaction must not move forward while the intelligence community warns that it could place the crown jewels of American military technology within reach of the Chinese Communist Party.

Concurrently, Riyadh has been taking steps to broaden its foreign security alliances. Last month, Saudi Arabia concluded a mutual defense pact dubbed the Mecca Agreement alongside Pakistan and Turkiye, highlighting an effort among the signatory nations to build joint defense mechanisms that rely less heavily on direct protection from Washington.

The regional distribution of high-end American military hardware has previously encountered major diplomatic and security hurdles. Turkiye, a fellow NATO member that initially participated as an industrial partner in the international F-35 development consortium, was barred from receiving the stealth aircraft in 2019 after Ankara finalized the purchase of advanced anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia.

The proposed $24.3 billion sale now awaits legislative review in the US Congress, where lawmakers must decide whether to grant formal approval amid intense debates surrounding regional stability, conflict entanglements, and the protection of classified American defense technology.