US clears $24.3bn F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia; Israel and China fears surface
State Department notifies Congress of a first-ever sale of 48 F-35 jets to Riyadh, prompting Israeli demands for compensation and Democratic warnings over Chinese access to stealth technology.
What to know
- The $24.3 billion deal for 48 F-35s would be Saudi Arabia's first-ever purchase of the jet and put it on par with Israel's current fleet, ending decades of US policy preserving Israel's regional exclusivity on the aircraft.
- Congress has 30 days to scrutinise or block the sale; Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi cite intelligence warnings that China could access F-35 technology via Saudi Arabia's security ties with Beijing.
- Israel, which had pushed to link any sale to Saudi-Israel normalization, is reportedly seeking 'compensation' in the form of weapons the US had previously withheld.
- The deal comes as Saudi Arabia is drawn deeper into conflict with Yemen's Houthis, who claim to have shot down a Saudi F-15, and as MBS has pressed Trump for more direct US military involvement, which Trump has so far declined.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the military balance in the region”
US State Department, Executive branch agency · BBC News ↗ · Sep 20
Donald Trump US President
Mohammed bin Salman Saudi Crown Prince
Raja Krishnamoorthi US Representative, House Intelligence CommitteeUS State Department Executive branch agencyIsraeli government/officials US ally with historic F-35 exclusivity in the regionHouthis Iran-backed armed group in Yemen
How it unfolded 6 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments
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Deal enters 30-day congressional review amid continued scrutiny
With Congress given 30 days to scrutinise or attempt to block the sale, reporting continued to frame the deal as controversial, citing concerns from Democratic lawmakers, defense officials and Israel over regional balance and Chinese access to stealth technology.
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first by Mastodon, 4d ago · also BBC Middle East, BBC
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This is a huge strategic blunder. Trump seems to have little understanding of the geopolitical risks involved, probably because he views everything through the lens of a businessman. If Xi eventually gets access to these technologies and uses them against the United States, Trump won’t be the one paying the price for the consequences.
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AnalysisUS advances deal despite Israeli normalization push
The Jerusalem Post reported that Washington advanced the potential sale even as Israeli officials had sought to tie any F-35 sale to Saudi-Israel normalization, a diplomatic condition that has not been met.
“it could put the crown jewels of American military technology within reach of the Chinese Communist Party…”
— Raja Krishnamoorthi, US Representative · source -
1 outlet first by Jerusalem Post, 4d ago · read ↗
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NOW ON VERDANT SQUARE RADIO == NOW PLAYING == Reuters World News: Why is Trump banning CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House? | Reuters World News https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=Tjxd4Yfurg A#vsn # radio # news # reuters # DiverseSpectrumOfTheLeft # SupportIndependentMedia # Resist https:// mastodon.social/@VerdantSquare…
2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
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And if they are struck with overwhelming force, we hear you—and others—crying out about civilian casualties; it’s a case of "damned if you do and damned if you don't." Saudi Arabia is not Israel—which strikes anything that moves, whether animal, human, or inanimate object; Saudi Arabia is a state that respects laws and humanitarian covenants.
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NOW PLAYING == Reuters World News: Why is Trump banning CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House? | Reuters World News https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=Tjxd4YfurgA # vsn # radio # news # reuters # DiverseSpectrumOfTheLeft # SupportIndependentMedia # Resist
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Israel reportedly seeks 'compensation' arms from Washington
Israeli media reported that Israel would seek to purchase weapons systems the US had previously declined to sell, in response to the Saudi F-35 deal, according to a source familiar with the matter cited by Hebrew outlet Walla.
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first by Scripps News, 5d ago · also Stars & Stripes, France 24, France 24 EN, Quartz, Agence France-Presse, Dawn +2
4 more headlines
- Trump administration advances $24 billion F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia Stars & Stripes · 5d ago
- US approves sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia France 24 · 5d ago
- Trump administration approves potential $24 billion fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia Quartz · 5d ago
- US approves sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia Agence France-Presse · 5d ago
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2 outlets first by ZeroHedge, 5d ago · also Anadolu Agency · read ↗
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Trump pushes ahead with a sale to Saudi Arabia of 48 F-35 fighter jets. The State Dept. announcement came one day after we reported that US intel agencies had warned about China possibly acquiring F-35 tech from Saudi Arabia. Gift link to @nytimes.com story:
2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
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If Israel doesn't have a non-nuclear qualitative advantage, it has no reason not to nuke everyone that threatens their existence.
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Getting an F-15 shot down is a pilot skill issue when you’re talking about the Houthis as the defender
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Rep. Krishnamoorthi opposes the sale over China risk
Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a House Intelligence Committee member, publicly opposed the sale, arguing it endangers sensitive US military technology given intelligence community warnings about China.
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🔴 BREAKING US Approves $24.3 Billion F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia The United States has approved a $24.3 billion arms deal for 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The sale faces opposition from Israel, which has previously voiced concerns regarding Riyadh acquiring advanced US weaponry despite ongoing... 📰 https://www…
2 more of the top 3 · 7 posts in this stretch
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The US will sell 48 advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, despite reports that China could steal the warplane’s technology. The deal, valued at $24.3bn (£18.2bn), was agreed last November when Donald Trump met Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and de facto leader, in the White House. Multiple reports from intelligence analysts…
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# usa # saudiarabia # israel : # usforeignpolicy / # armssale / # f35 / middleeast (Arms race - let‘s go!) The United States has approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia, the State Department said Thursday (…). The F-35 sale "will not alter the # militarybalance in the region," the State Department said, in…
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State Department notifies Congress of $24.3bn F-35 sale
The State Department formally approved the potential sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II jets, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications gear, spare parts and support to Saudi Arabia for an estimated $24.3 billion, its first-ever F-35 sale to the kingdom.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.”
— US State Department -
first by KRDO, 6d ago · also The Aviationist, Investing.com News, Investing.com India, Al-Monitor, Reuters, The Times of Israel +16
19 more headlines
- U.S. Approves F-35 Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia The Aviationist · 6d ago
- US approves $24.3 billion F-35 fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia Investing.com News · 6d ago
- US clears way for $24.3 billion military aircraft sale to Saudi Arabia Al-Monitor · 6d ago
- US approves potential $24.3 billion F-35 jet sale to Saudi Arabia Telegraph India · 6d ago
- US Approves Sale Of 48 F-35 Jets To Saudi Amid Rising Middle East Tensions NDTV · 6d ago
- US State Department approves $24.3B F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia Anadolu Agency · 6d ago
- US clears way for $30.9 billion fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia Straits Times · 6d ago
- Trump approves F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia despite China warnings The Telegraph · 6d ago
- Trump administration approves $24bn sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia FT · 6d ago
- Trump administration approves $24B sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia Al-Monitor · 6d ago
- US State Department approves sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia Middle East Eye · 6d ago
- US clears $24B F-35 sale for Saudi Arabia Breaking Defense · 6d ago
- U.S. approves possible $24.3 billion F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia Investing.com News · 6d ago
- Trump Approves Potential $24 Billion F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia Yahoo · 6d ago
- US approves sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli concerns SCMP · 6d ago
- US approves possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia Jerusalem Post · 6d ago
- Trump administration approves sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia Mastodon · 6d ago
- U.S. clears way for $24.3 billion fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia Japan Today · 6d ago
- U.S. approves sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia The Hindu · 6d ago
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first by Middle East Eye, 6d ago · also Times of Israel, Hindustan Times, CNN, KTVZ-TV, The National UAE, France 24 EN +3
7 more headlines
- Trump administration okays sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia as part of $24.3B military package Times of Israel · 6d ago
- US approves USD 24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia Hindustan Times · 6d ago
- US approves potential $24 billion sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia CNN · 6d ago
- Trump administration clears way for sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia The National UAE · 6d ago
- US approves $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia France 24 EN · 6d ago
- US approves sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia Le Monde EN · 6d ago
- Trump administration advances $24.3 billion fighter jet deal to Saudi Arabia as Houthis escalate attacks CNBC · 6d ago
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🇺🇸🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia is getting the jet Washington swore only Israel could fly in the Middle East. The State Department has approved a possible $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35s to the kingdom, its first ever, along with 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, comms gear, spare parts and support,
1 more of the top 2 · 3 posts in this stretch
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🇺🇸🇸🇦🇨🇳 The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $24 billion sale of 48 F-35s to Saudi Arabia, although congressional approval remains another hurdle. Brandon Weichert rejects the argument that the sale should be blocked primarily because China could gain access to F-35
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Houthis claim downing a Saudi F-15 over Marib
The Houthis said they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib with a 'locally made' surface-to-air missile, releasing video of burning wreckage, amid intensifying fighting that reportedly killed at least five people including three children.
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background
NYT reveals US intelligence warnings over China and F-35 tech — The New York Times reported that US intelligence analysts had raised in internal reports the possibility that China could acquire or steal F-35 technology through Saudi Arabia's security partnership with Beijing, one day before the State Department's formal announcement.
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background
Trump and MBS agree the deal during White House visit — According to reporting cited in discussion, the F-35 deal was agreed when Trump met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House last November, building on the two leaders' close relationship.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by Mastodon, 6d ago · also Seeking Alpha, NYT Middle East, NYT, NYT Asia Pacific
1 more headline
- State Department clears way for $24.3B F-35 jet sale to Saudi Arabia Seeking Alpha · 6d ago
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first by Politico, 6d ago · also Bloomberg Markets, Bloomberg
1 more headline
- US to Sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia in $24.3 Billion Deal Bloomberg Markets · 6d ago
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first by The Washington Sun, 5d ago · also NBC News
1 more headline
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first by The Times of India, 6d ago · also Times of India
1 more headline
- US advances $24.3bn Saudi F-35 deal despite concerns over kingdom's China ties Times of India · 6d ago
and 6 smaller pieces
What people are saying 5 voices from 1 site · best of 18 · verbatim
- Sep 19
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AMERICAN IDIOT: "Hey, Donnie, since you're giving us nukes, can we get some of those snazzy top of the line F-35s, too?" https://www. reuters.com/business/aerospace -defense/us-state-department-oks-possible-243-billion-military-aircraft-sale-saudi-arabia-2026-09-17/
- Sep 18
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# CNN # News US approves potential $24 billion sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia
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https://www. europesays.com/3257689/ Israel seeks ‘compensation’ from US for Saudi F-35 deal, will buy new weapons # F35 # FighterJets # idf # Israel # IsraeliAirForce # SaudiArabia # UnitedStates # WeaponsSales
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https://www. europesays.com/us/1070174/ Why US plan to sell F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia is controversial – bbc.com # Headlines # News # TopStories
- Sep 17
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# BBC # News Why US plan to sell F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia is controversial
