Impact Of Selling F-35s To Saudi Arabia On The Region
In a major policy shift, the Trump administration wants to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, but there are still hurdles ahead and concerns to satisfy.
The Trump administration’s agreement to sell F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia marks a major policy shift, with Washington previously being unwilling to export these high-end jets to Arab states in the Middle East. Such a sale would have significant ramifications for the airpower balance in the region, especially as regards Israel, currently the only F-35 operator in the Middle East, but its ripples could also be felt well beyond Tel Aviv.
On November 18, U.S. President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s ruler, finalized a series of agreements intended to deepen the U.S.-Saudi strategic partnership. These include the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement (SDA), which aims to “reinforce regional stability,” including through arms sales to the kingdom.
https://www.twz.com/air/impact-of-selling-f-35s-to-saudi-arabia-on-the-region-and-beyond
