The U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly confirmed his administration's intention to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, just hours before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's scheduled visit to the White House.

The potential deal, reported to involve up to 48 of the stealth fighter jets, is poised to strengthen the strategic alliance between Washington and Riyadh but is expected to face significant hurdles, including concerns over technology security, regional balance of power, and scrutiny from Congress.

Trump's announcement underscores the broader strategic and economic agreements expected to be finalized during the crown prince's visit. These are anticipated to include a major defense pact and a separate multibillion-dollar deal involving liquefied natural gas, solidifying a key partnership in the Middle East.

"They wanna buy a lot of jets," Trump told reporters, confirming Riyadh's strong interest in the F-35 and other advanced military hardware.

The proposed sale places Israel, America's closest Middle Eastern ally, in a complex position. While reports suggest Israel has not outright rejected the sale, it is actively pushing the U.S. to attach stringent conditions. A key Israeli demand is that the F-35s not be deployed in western Saudi Arabia, due to its proximity to Israeli territory.

Furthermore, Israeli officials are reportedly seeking to leverage the sale to advance a U.S. foreign policy priority: the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The proposed deal faces significant hurdles before it can be finalized, primarily stemming from two major fronts. Within the U.S. government, Pentagon and intelligence sources have expressed serious concerns that the sale could provide China with an opportunity to gain access to the F-35's sensitive stealth technology, thereby potentially compromising American air superiority.

Furthermore, the agreement is expected to face strong bipartisan scrutiny in Congress, where lawmakers have consistently raised objections to major arms sales to Saudi Arabia, citing the kingdom's human rights record, its role in the war in Yemen. (ILKHA)