BIG trouble for Netanyahu as Saudi Arabia to acquire F-35 fighter jets from US for…; Crown Prince Salman is targeting…

Saudi Arabia F-35 deal: Saudi Arabia may soon become the first Arab country to acquire the US-made F-35 stealth fighter jet, challenging Israel’s aerial superiority in the Middle East, and giving the Kingdom the capability to conduct lethal air strikes against threats like the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

According to reports, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is likely to discuss a potential F-35 deal with US President Doland Trump during his upcoming visit to the United States.

Why Saudi Arabia wants F-35s?

Earlier this year, during the 12-day Israel-Iran war, the Israeli Air Force decimated targets deep inside Tehran using its 5th generation F-35 fighters, and showed that Israel has the capability to strike anywhere in the Middle East. The Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a demand for advanced fighter jets among Arab and Muslim countries in the Middle East, with Turkey also pursuing a potential F-35 deal with the US, while Qatar is also making similar efforts.

As per reports, US’ Department of War and the Pentagon have green-lighted the F-35 deal with Saudi Arabia, and the Trump administration is considering to sell the advanced fighter jet to its biggest ally in the Arab world.

In May this year, the Trump administration had approved a massive $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, which includes air and missile defense, air force and space technology, maritime security, and communications technology, but does not include F-35 fighter jets. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salma is travelling to the US on November 18, and its expected that a F-35 deal could be reached during his trip.

Will US sell F-35 to Saudi?

According to a Reuters reports, Saudi Arabia plans to purchase a fleet of 48 F-35 fighter jets from the US, but the previous Biden administration had asked Riyadh to normalize ties with Israel, if it desired to acquire the stealth fighter from Washington. Analysts believe, Doland Trump, the architect of the Abraham Accords, will also likely demand a similar deal from Riyadh in exchange for a F-35 deal.

Notably, in 2023, Saudi Arabia had reportedly come very close with the US to normalize relations with Israel, and its believed that Hamas carried out the October 7 attack to prevent a potential peace accord between Riyadh and Jerusalem.

Who is Riyadh’s target?

Saudi Arabia’s air force already flies some of most advanced fighter jets, including the F-15 and Eurofighter Typhoon, but wants to incorporate a fifth-generation fighter to boost its aerial offensive abilities. Riyadh has also sought to purchase the KAAN fighter jet from Turkey, but is likely to abandon that deal if Trump approves the sale of F-35s.

According to experts, Saudi Arabia’s plans to acquire a F-35 fleet is primarily aimed at country the threat posed by Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels, but Riyadh has also become increasingly wary of Israel after the recent Israeli attack on Qatar, and wants to build strong deterrence capabilities against the Jewish.

Currently,  Israel is the only country in the Middle East that possesses US-made F-35 fighter jets, giving it a giant edge in aerial capabilities in the region.