A Deal on the Horizon: Saudi Arabia Approaches Normalization with Israel in Exchange for F-35 Aircraft
President Donald Trump has revealed his intent to sell Saudi Arabia stealth F-35 jets, a move experts describe as a potential strategic turning point in the Middle East, impacting not only military dynamics but also diplomatic and political alliances. The deal encompasses around 48 advanced aircraft valued in the billions of dollars, representing the highest level of American armament provided to any Arab nation to date, and it is part of strengthening the strategic defense partnership between Washington and Riyadh.
What stands out is the unspoken political dimension of this deal, closely tied to the normalization process between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Israeli and American reports indicate that Tel Aviv does not oppose the sale of the aircraft but is linking it to tangible steps from Riyadh toward normalizing relations, making the deal more than just a military transaction. Trump himself hinted that this sale could be included in a broader strategy to advance the Arab-Israeli normalization agenda, as exemplified by the Abraham Accords that have integrated other Arab countries into alliances with Israel.
From a military standpoint, selling F-35s to Saudi Arabia significantly enhances the kingdom’s aerial capabilities, redrawing the balance of power in the Gulf and the Middle East, while considering Israel’s qualitative military edge. Politically, the deal represents a potential leverage tool for Riyadh to push for concrete diplomatic steps toward Israel, positioning the kingdom at a delicate crossroads between its military interests and its diplomatic and internal priorities.
Observers view this deal as a dual message: on one hand, it reaffirms American commitment to Saudi defense; on the other, it sends a subtler message to Israel that the enhancement of Saudi military capabilities should coincide with diplomatic progress in the normalization process. Under this equation, Riyadh could use the deal as a bargaining chip to secure its conditions for normalization, or it might face internal and external pressures impacting the deal’s trajectory, including potential objections from the U.S. Congress and human rights organizations criticizing the kingdom’s human rights record, along with regional risks tied to a possible arms race.
Overall, Trump’s decision to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia is not merely an arms deal but a component of a complex strategic equation affecting military and political balances in the region. It opens the door to the potential indirect advancement of the Arab-Israeli normalization issue, carrying implications for regional alliances and the future of Saudi-Israeli relations. This transaction represents a critical juncture that could redefine the landscape of influence and alliances in the Middle East in the near to medium term.
