The United States has stepped up pressure on Saudi Arabia to abandon an agreement involving fighter jets from Pakistan and Turkey, amid concerns in Washington that the kingdom could lose influence in the defense market.
This action is being taken in conjunction with the confirmation of the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Arab countries and the signing of a comprehensive military agreement between the two governments.
Middle East Eye reports that U.S. officials are concerned that supplier diversification could reduce U.S. arms exports. Diplomats continue to demand explanations from Riyadh about its technical and military contacts with other countries in the region, especially Ankara and Islamabad.
According to reports, Washington has already secured assurances from Saudi Arabia that it will not pursue the purchase of the Pakistan-developed JF-17 fighter jet. A plan to offset Pakistan’s debt in exchange for the aircraft was also discussed, but was eventually halted after pressure from the United States.
Currently, the biggest concern in the United States is the possibility of Saudi Arabia participating in Türkiye’s fifth-generation fighter KAAN program. The Pentagon estimates that Saudi Arabia already has a sizable military force consisting of F-15s and Eurofighter Typhoons, and argues that investing in the Turkish project could reduce funds allocated to acquiring U.S. military equipment. This further strengthens the White House’s interest in maintaining exclusivity in arms supplies to its Gulf allies.
source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @TUSAS_EN | This content was created with the help of artificial intelligence and has been reviewed by our editorial team.
