Riyadh: The United States has agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an unprecedented $142 billion worth of weapons, according to a White House fact sheet released Tuesday. Described as “the largest defense cooperation agreement in U.S. history, ,the deal was signed during U.S. President Donald Trump’s official visit to Riyadh.
The extensive package encompasses agreements with over a dozen American defense companies, covering critical areas such as air and missile defense, air force and space technologies, maritime security, and advanced communications systems.
“The package signed today, the largest defense cooperation deal in U.S. history, is a clear demonstration of our commitment to strengthening our partnership,” the White House stated in its fact sheet.
The announcement comes after Reuters initially reported in April that the deal would exceed $100 billion in value. While the full breakdown of contracts remains undisclosed, sources familiar with the matter indicated that Lockheed Martin Corp is expected to provide C-130 transport aircraft, missile systems, and radar equipment. Executives from other major defense contractors—including RTX Corp, Boeing Co., and Northrop Grumman Corp—were anticipated to attend the signing in Riyadh, though the White House has not confirmed specific equipment or manufacturers included in the finalized agreement.
It remains unclear how many of the proposed contracts represent entirely new deals. Several sources indicated that many components of the agreement had been in negotiation for some time.
Saudi Arabia continues to be the largest buyer of U.S. military equipment. Back in 2017, President Trump proposed a $110 billion arms package to Riyadh. However, by 2018, only $14.5 billion of those sales had been initiated, leading to increased scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers, especially after the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
More recently, former President Joe Biden’s administration had pursued a broader defense pact with Saudi Arabia, one that included normalization of relations with Israel. Those efforts ultimately failed to materialize.
Also Read | Trump Announces Plan to Lift U.S. Sanctions on Syria in Major Policy Reversal
The current deal makes no mention of the F-35 stealth fighter jets that Saudi Arabia has long expressed interest in acquiring. Two sources briefed on U.S.-Saudi discussions confirmed that Riyadh’s request for the Lockheed-built F-35s had been discussed. However, one source noted that it remains uncertain whether Washington will authorize the sale of such advanced technology to Saudi Arabia, given longstanding U.S. commitments to ensure Israel maintains a “qualitative military edge” in the region.
“The qualitative military edge, or U.S. guarantees that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than Arab states, is an issue that ‘has come up,’” said one source familiar with the negotiations, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Also Read | Alien Enemies Act Invoked: Judge Greenlights Trump’s Gang Deportation Strategy
Israel, a close U.S. ally, has operated the F-35 since 2016 and currently possesses multiple squadrons. If approved, Saudi Arabia would become only the second country in the Middle East to deploy the state-of-the-art stealth fighter, equipped with radar-evading technology.
As regional dynamics evolve and U.S.-Saudi defense ties deepen, the $142 billion deal marks a defining moment in Washington’s long-standing military relationship with the kingdom.
