Saudi Arabia to receive F-35 jets ‘pretty similar’ to Israel’s, Trump says
The US president says he would like to provide both Saudi Arabia and Israel "top-of-the-line" stealth-capable F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, risking potential blowback from Israeli leaders intent to maintain their country's military supremacy in the region.
WASHINGTON — The US intends to sell fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia that are “pretty similar” to the highly advanced F-35I Adir models provided to Israel, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.
Such a move would likely trigger objection among Israel’s top military and political echelons, who have long enjoyed top-tier access to cutting-edge US military hardware in the region.
That privilege, known in Washington as the policy of Israel’s “qualitative military edge,” is enshrined in US law and designed to give Israel a permanent advantage over its neighbors.
Trump’s comment came before the cameras in the Oval Office during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as his administration prepares a proposal to sell at least 48 of the stealth-capable, Lockheed Martin–manufactured fighter jets to Riyadh.
