The Israeli government is advocating for the United States to tie the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to the kingdom’s diplomatic relations with Israel. According to an unnamed Israeli official, Israel is not outright against the sale but insists on progress in normalization talks between Riyadh and Jerusalem. “We told the Trump administration that the supply of F-35s to Saudi Arabia needs to be subject to Saudi normalization with Israel,” the official stated to Axios.
While Israel strongly opposes the sale of F-35s to Turkey, officials express a different stance regarding Saudi Arabia. They argue that if the sale is part of a broader regional security cooperation framework, like the one established through the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates, it may be acceptable. One official noted, “We are less concerned about such weapons systems in Saudi Arabia if it’s part of a regional security cooperation.”
Strategic Developments in U.S.-Saudi Relations
These discussions come as President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are set to meet on March 15, 2024, at the White House. They will discuss a potential U.S.-Saudi mutual defense agreement, which could include the F-35 sale. An Israeli official highlighted the geographical proximity, stating, “It takes minutes for an F-35 to fly from Saudi Arabia to Israel,” while emphasizing the need for restrictions on the deployment of Saudi jets in the western part of the kingdom.
Failure to condition the sale on normalized relations would be “counterproductive,” according to the same official. The F-35 jets, known for their advanced stealth capabilities, can reach speeds of up to Mach 1.6, approximately 1,200 miles per hour. Each jet costs at least $101.5 million, and Israel currently possesses 45 F-35s, with an additional 30 on order, as reported by the Times of Israel.
In recent remarks, Trump indicated that Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in acquiring a significant number of fighter jets, with estimates suggesting the kingdom could spend billions on 48 F-35 planes. This follows a historic arms deal signed in May 2017, valued at $142 billion, which aimed to provide Saudi Arabia with advanced military equipment and services from various U.S. defense firms.
Challenges in U.S.-Saudi-Israeli Diplomacy
Trump has previously articulated his aspiration for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, which have successfully established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations. However, Saudi Arabia has maintained that any formal agreement necessitates Israel’s commitment to securing Palestinian statehood.
Bin Salman is also scheduled to participate in a U.S.-Saudi Business Council meeting at the Kennedy Center on March 16, 2024, where he will engage with numerous CEOs from across the United States. This visit marks the crown prince’s first trip to the U.S. since the controversial 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
As negotiations progress, the intersection of defense sales, diplomatic relations, and regional security remains a critical focus for all parties involved. The outcomes of these discussions could have lasting implications for Israeli, Saudi, and U.S. relations in the Middle East.
