In a move that’s sent ripples through diplomatic and military circles, the United States has agreed to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, positioning the kingdom to become the first Arab nation—and only the second country in the Middle East after Israel—to operate the world’s most advanced fifth-generation combat aircraft. The deal, announced by President Donald Trump on November 17, 2025, has become the focal point of intense debate, with far-reaching implications for regional security, global alliances, and the delicate balance of power in the Middle East.
President Trump, never shy about touting American military prowess, declared, “They’re going to purchase F-35s. They’re buying them from Lockheed. And it’s a great plane. We make, by the way, the best military equipment. You saw that during the Iran skirmish. We make the best planes, the best missiles. We make the best defensive missiles. We make the best military equipment in the world. They’ve been a great ally,” as reported by Al-Ahram Weekly. The F-35s, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, have already proven their mettle in recent combat operations involving Israel and Iran, where their stealth and electronic warfare capabilities allowed them to penetrate and dismantle Iranian air defenses.
But the sale is far from straightforward. The F-35 deal comes with significant strings attached. According to Reuters, the jets destined for Saudi Arabia will be “downgraded” compared to the Israeli variant, lacking the most advanced weapons, electronic warfare systems, and next-generation AIM-260 missiles. This is no accident: U.S. law mandates that Israel’s so-called Qualitative Military Edge (QME) must be preserved, ensuring that no other country in the region can match its technological superiority. An Israeli official told Axios, “Unlike the supply of F-35s to Turkey that we strongly oppose, we are less concerned about such weapons systems in Saudi Arabia if it is part of a regional security cooperation as part of the Abraham Accords.”
For Israel, the issue of advanced U.S. arms sales to Arab neighbors is not new. During the Reagan administration in the early 1980s, the sale of AWACS surveillance planes to Saudi Arabia stirred similar anxieties. Yet, as Al-Ahram Weekly notes, those fears ultimately did not upend the region’s balance of power. Today, Israeli military officials remain confident. When asked about the F-35 sale, one official commented that Israel “knows how to deal with that problem,” though pro-Israel activists remain wary.
Israel’s confidence rests on more than just rhetoric. The Israeli Air Force operates a unique F-35 variant, extensively modified with domestic hardware and software. Israeli engineers at Tel Nof Air Base have the authority to replace core systems and integrate homegrown weaponry, from air-to-air missiles to precision-guided bombs. This flexibility, coupled with highly trained pilots, has helped Israel maintain its QME. “We saw in the war against Iran the coordination between all the planes. Most of the F-35 missions were intelligence and gave us a lot of information that other planes like the F-16I don’t have,” an Israeli F-16I navigator told The Warzone. “They have a lot of equipment that helps them determine which missiles are heading towards us. And they actually can say to the F-16I, be aware you’re going to meet this kind of missile or another kind.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Royal Air Force is no slouch. Already fielding about 150 F-15s across several variants and 70 Eurofighter Typhoons, the kingdom’s air power is among the most modern in the region. The F-35s will be able to integrate seamlessly with these existing platforms, dramatically enhancing Saudi Arabia’s ability to conduct complex missions, from penetrating air defenses to achieving air dominance in concert with allied reconnaissance and command units. The jets are also expected to operate within a unified communications network linking U.S. allies across the Middle East, a system designed to counter Iranian threats.
Yet, the F-35 sale is only one part of a much broader U.S.-Saudi defense partnership. According to a White House document, the new strategic agreement covers missile defense, air and space forces, land and border security, maritime and coastal protection, and advanced communications. More than a dozen U.S. defense contractors are involved in building and upgrading Saudi military systems. The Saudis have pledged to raise their investment in the U.S. to nearly $1 trillion, a staggering sum that underscores the economic stakes of this alliance.
But the relationship is not without controversy. Trump’s goal, as reported by Al-Ahram Weekly, has been to encourage Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel. However, the Saudis have made it clear that any normalization is contingent on progress toward a Palestinian state—an outcome that lacks majority support in Israel. For now, the two sides are communicating their red lines through U.S. channels, but public normalization appears distant.
The U.S.-Saudi partnership also extends into the nuclear arena, with plans for a multi-billion-dollar civil nuclear energy agreement. Here, too, concerns abound. The Israeli Institute for National Security Studies points out that while Congress has refused to approve local enrichment in Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is determined to control the entire nuclear fuel cycle. Many fear that such local control could trigger a nuclear arms race across the Middle East.
Complicating matters further are parallel U.S. military and financial deals with other regional players, including Qatar and Turkey. Some in Israel worry these arrangements might erode Israel’s security advantages and weaken the historic U.S.-Israel alliance. There is also unease over Trump administration statements opposing Israeli annexation of the West Bank, with some Israelis interpreting these as signals that future U.S. deals could push for the division of Israeli-held territory. The prospect of Palestinian statehood, especially in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, remains a contentious issue, with the Trump administration’s 20-point peace plan potentially offering statehood as a “reward.”
The regional arms race is not limited to U.S. hardware. At the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, UAE ruler Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan inspected Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57, while Turkey is working to rejoin the F-35 program and advance its own KAAN fighter project. The quality of military technology, as recent clashes between Israel and Iran or India and Pakistan have shown, often proves decisive in modern warfare. Yet, as Al-Ahram Weekly observes, these cutting-edge aircraft are also potent tools for generating economic and political leverage.
As the dust settles on this historic deal, the full impact on the region remains to be seen. What’s clear is that U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East is undergoing a significant transformation—one that could reshape alliances, embolden rivals, and test the resilience of old friendships. With so much at stake, leaders and lobbyists on all sides are likely to step up their efforts to influence the next chapter in this unfolding story.