President Donald Trump on Monday said the US would be selling F-35 fighters to Saudi Arabia.
Mr Trump made the announcement in the Oval Office, a day before a visit to the White House by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“I will say that we will be doing that. We'll be selling F-35s,” Mr Trump told journalists.
The sale of F-35s would be a major win for Saudi Arabia as Washington and Riyadh deepen ties, and as Mr Trump presses the kingdom to join the Abraham Accords and normalise relations with Israel.
US media reported that the US would be selling up to 48 F-35 A jets – the conventional take-off and landing model – with a price tag of about $60 billion. The sale is part of a broader $142 billion US–Saudi defence package.
Riyadh is also hoping for a formal security pact, similar to the one reached between the US and the UAE.
The US could also grant Riyadh “major defence partner” status or m
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