The United States has stepped up pressure on Saudi Arabia to get the kingdom to renege on deals involving fighter jets from Pakistan and Turkey, as Washington worries about losing its foothold in the Saudi defense market.
The measure takes place in parallel with the confirmation of the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the Arab country and the signing of a comprehensive military agreement between the two governments.
According to information published by Middle East Eye, US officials fear that a diversification of suppliers will reduce US arms exports. Diplomats continue to demand clarifications from Riyadh on technical and military contacts with other countries in the region, particularly Ankara and Islamabad.
Washington is said to have already received guarantees that Saudi Arabia will not proceed with the purchase of the JF-17 fighter jet, developed by Pakistan. The possibility of forgiving Pakistani debt in exchange for the planes was discussed, but was eventually stopped after American pressure.
At the moment, the main concern of the United States is a possible Saudi Arabian participation in Turkey’s program for the fifth-generation fighter jet KAAN. The Pentagon considers that the kingdom already disposes of a significant fleet of F-15 and Eurofighter Typhoon, and argues that any investment in the Turkish project could reduce funds set aside for the acquisition of American military material. This reinforces the White House’s interest in maintaining exclusivity in arms deliveries to its ally in the Persian Gulf.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: @TUSAS_EN | This content has been created with the help of KI and reviewed by the editors
