Former President Donald Trump said the United States approved the sale of F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, indicating a breakthrough in relations between Washington and Riyadh.
The statement was made during a speech at an investment event held in Miami, on March 28, 2026. According to Trump, it would be the first time that the Gulf country would have access to one of the most advanced combat aircraft ever built.
The possible negotiation, however, had already been discussed since 2025, when North American authorities analyzed the sale of up to 48 units of the F-35. The agreement would still need to go through formal approval stages, including bodies such as the US Congress and the Department of Defense. Furthermore, complex diplomatic issues remain open, such as the impact of the measure on Israel, which historically maintains a qualitative military advantage in the region, and the consequences of the conflict with Iran.
In the geopolitical field, the sale of the fighter jets is part of a broader military cooperation strategy with Saudi Arabia, estimated to cost more than US$140 billion. The initiative also seeks to contain China’s growing influence in the Middle East. Even so, experts assess that Riyadh maintains a balanced foreign policy, preserving relations with both Washington and Beijing, which reduces the immediate impact of this move.
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If the deal is completed, the Saudi Air Force will use the F-35s to replace old Panavia Tornado IDS fighters, significantly increasing its military capacity. Although Saudi versions do not reach the same level of customization as Israeli models, the technological leap would be significant. The scenario occurs amid escalating tensions in the region, with attacks involving missiles and drones attributed to Iran, indicating that the conflict could still continue and require increasingly advanced military capabilities.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: @usairforce | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Trump:
We agreed to sell the F-35 to Saudi Arabia. The F-35 is amazing; we sell them very sparingly—we don’t want other people to have them. pic.twitter.com/s8GvBaXn32
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 27, 2026
He is mighty and he is also on his way to Iran 😌
Special documentation of the F-35I planes on their way to attack: pic.twitter.com/EKf9tPFmlm
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) March 15, 2026
