Saudi Arabia is already America’s top arms buyer and now Trump wants to add F-35s
There’s no business quite like the U.S. arms business and no audience roars louder in approval than Saudi Arabia.On Tuesday, President Donald Trump is expected to close several deals with...
By Fox News · Fox News
There’s no business quite like the U.S. arms business and no audience roars louder in approval than Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump is expected to close several deals with Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a visit that could see billions more in U.S. weapons flow to one of the world’s most prolific importers of military hardware. TRUMP SET TO HOST SAUDI ARABIA'S POWERFUL CROWN PRINCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEK Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that the U.S. will likely move forward with a deal to sell F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia. The F-35, the crown jewel in Lockheed Martin’s portfolio, is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world and one of the most sought-after symbols of U.S. military might. Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich monarchy is one of America’s most crucial strategic partners in the Middle East and one of the U.S. defense industry’s most dependable customers. For Washington, the partnership means billions in defense revenue and a key ally in the Gulf. For Riyadh, it’s a pipeline to the world’s most advanced military technology and a symbol of its ambition to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s military powers in a volatile region. TRUMP SET TO HOST SAUDI ARABIA'S POWERFUL CROWN PRINCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEK According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, between 2020 and 2024, Saudi Arabia was the top buyer of American-made arms, accounting for 12% of all U.S. weapons exports, followed by Ukraine (9.3%) and Japan (8.8%). The U.S. was also by far the kingdom’s main supplier, providing 74% of all Saudi arms imports during that period. That level of spending underscores Saudi Arabia’s regional military ambitions, but globally, it’s the U.S. that dominates by an extraordinary margin. SAUDI ARABIA'S 40-YEAR-OLD DISRUPTOR: HOW MBS REWIRED THE KINGDOM IN 10 SHORT YEARS With $997 billion in defense spending in 2024, the U.S. outspent every other nation several ti…