• President Trump confirms he is actively reviewing the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
  • The proposed sale is linked to broader diplomatic efforts to expand the Abraham Accords framework.
  • Israeli officials express mixed reactions, while U.S. security experts voice skepticism about supplying advanced weapons to an autocratic regime.

President Donald Trump is actively considering approving the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, signaling serious intent over the weekend by telling reporters on Air Force One: "They wanna buy a lot of jets, I'm looking at that. They've asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of '35' - but they want to buy actually more than that, fighter jets."

The potential sale represents a significant shift in U.S. Middle East military policy and comes amid ongoing efforts to expand the Abraham Accords normalization framework. According to people familiar with the discussions, the F-35 transaction is being positioned as part of a broader diplomatic package that could accelerate Saudi Arabia's integration into the regional agreement.

Saudi Arabia views this fighter jet acquisition as central to its strategy for regional dominance and leadership in the Middle East. Gulf affairs expert Dr. Yossi Mann from Bar-Ilan University noted that Riyadh sees normalization with Israel as a strategic imperative and understands that maintaining ties with Israel is essential to establishing itself as the region's emerging leader.

Israeli officials appear divided on the implications. While Economy Minister Nir Barkat dismissed concerns that U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia would compromise Israel's military superiority, stating that "The Americans and the prime minister are committed to maintaining the IDF's superiority," Israeli defense officials have warned that such deals could undermine the Israeli Air Force's qualitative edge.

The proposed sale has drawn criticism from security experts and analysts who question whether the United States should trust any autocratic regime with advanced weapon systems. The concern centers not on current Saudi-U.S. relations but on the long-term unpredictability of autocratic governance, according to people familiar with the security community's position.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declined to comment specifically on the F-35 discussions but reiterated that Israel's opposition to a Palestinian state remains unchanged and that "Gaza will be demilitarized and Hamas will be dismantled."

The transaction awaits final approval from Trump and will likely require Congressional review, where it may face opposition from lawmakers concerned about human rights and regional military balance. Efforts to reach the White House for additional comment were unsuccessful Tuesday afternoon.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the timing of President Trump's comments. They were made over the weekend, not on Monday.