President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States will sell advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a major policy shift that has raised alarm among Israeli and Indian officials over regional security implications.“I will say that we will be doing that, we’ll be selling F-35s,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on November 17, one day before hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. The announcement came despite concerns from Pentagon intelligence officials and key regional allies about the potential consequences of the sale.Saudi Arabia has requested to purchase as many as 48 F-35 fighters in what would be a multibillion-dollar deal with Lockheed Martin, making it the first Arab military to acquire the fifth-generation stealth aircraft. Until now, Israel has been the only country in the Middle East operating F-35s.The Israeli Defense Forces delivered a formal position paper to political leadership on November 17 objecting to the sale, warning it could undermine Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region. The document stated that Israel’s air superiority depends on maintaining exclusive access to fifth-generation stealth aircraft, with long-range covert operations relying on that exclusivity. “Israel’s air superiority in the Middle East depends on maintaining exclusive access to fifth-generation stealth aircraft,” according to the IDF assessment obtained by Ynet. The military also warned that Saudi F-35 purchases could occupy production lines and delay Israeli orders for additional squadrons.Under US law, Israel is guaranteed weapons needed to maintain its qualitative military edge over Arab nations, though Trump administration officials have indicated they can provide assurances without specifying what additional capabilities would be offered to Israel.A Defense Intelligence Agency report warned that China could acquire the F-35’s advanced technology if the sale proceeds, citing Beijing’s defense ties with Riyadh. China is now Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, and the two countries conducted joint naval exercises in recent years.India has also expressed concern about the potential transfer, particularly given a recent defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan stipulating that an attack on either nation would be considered an attack on both. Analysts warn the deal could enable Pakistan to gain indirect access to advanced US military equipment through Saudi Arabia.
