Israel Urges U.S. to Link F-35 Sale to Saudi Normalization
Israel is urging the Trump administration to make any sale of its advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia dependent on Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel and joining the Abraham Accords. This demand sets up a pivotal meeting at the White House on Tuesday when President Trump meets with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss a significant defense deal that could involve supersonic aircraft.
Israeli officials conveyed to Axios that, unlike Turkey—which staunchly opposes Israel’s acceptance of the jets—Israel is not against selling advanced jets to Saudi Arabia. However, they emphasize the importance of extracting diplomatic concessions in return.
“We have communicated to the Trump administration that any F-35 supply to Saudi Arabia must hinge on Saudi normalization with Israel,” an Israeli official stated. They warned that delivering advanced weaponry without securing these concessions would be “a mistake and counterproductive.”
This apprehension stems from Israel’s exclusive status as the sole operator of the F-35 in the Middle East, possessing 45 of these fifth-generation jets and an additional 30 on order. This military advantage is a key aspect of U.S.-Israeli defense policy and is enshrined in U.S. law.
“It takes an F-35 several minutes to fly from Saudi Arabia to Israel,” a source from Israel warned, noting that there might be a request to avoid having Saudi jets stationed near the Israeli border.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is regarded as one of the globe’s most sophisticated fighter jets, having been integrated into the Israeli Air Force since December 2017. It stands alongside the U.S. F-22 and China’s J-20 in the exclusive fifth-generation category.
The stealth jets can achieve speeds of Mach 1.6, equating to about 1,200 miles per hour, and their costs range from $80 million to $101.5 million per unit. Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia could be in line to acquire as many as 48 jets in a deal worth multiple billions.
President Trump acknowledged on Air Force One last Friday that he was weighing Saudi Arabia’s request, mentioning, “They want to buy a lot of jets,” and expressed optimism about Saudi Arabia soon joining the Abraham Accords.
“I anticipate Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords soon,” Trump remarked, also indicating that interest in such a normalization framework has grown since the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities earlier this year.
The Abraham Accords, established by President Trump in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. This shift marked a significant change in Middle Eastern diplomacy, promoting unparalleled security cooperation and economic ties among Israel and Gulf states.
Although the UAE previously secured U.S. approval to purchase the F-35 as part of its normalization agreement, additional conditions hindered that process, and the sale ultimately did not proceed.
The Crown Prince’s forthcoming meeting appears timely as the Trump administration pushes for steps toward normalization following the recent Gaza ceasefire facilitated by Trump.
In a phone call last month after the Sharm el-Sheikh peace conference in Egypt, Trump expressed his hope to bin Salman that he would be successful in concluding peace in Gaza and that Saudi Arabia would advance toward full diplomatic ties with Israel.
A senior U.S. official candidly encapsulated the administration’s stance, stating, “Our message to Saudi Arabia is: ‘We’ve done everything you asked. Now we are looking for movements towards normalizing relations with Israel. So what’s the way forward?'”
Regarding future discussions, Trump told reporters that the meeting was more than just a formality; he indicated respect for Saudi Arabia and expressed expectations of substantial economic and defense agreements being signed during their meeting.
That said, considerable hurdles remain in achieving normalization. Saudi Arabia is insisting that Israel commit to a “credible, irreversible, and time-bound” approach to establishing a Palestinian state—something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected. Political divisions within Israel deepened after the Hamas attacks, which killed around 1,200 Israelis on October 7 and initiated the ongoing Gaza War.
The escalation has fostered considerable anti-Israel sentiment across the Arab and Muslim worlds, stalling normalization discussions that had seemed promising when two Israeli ministers recently visited Saudi Arabia prior to the October attacks.
Israeli sources have indicated that they expect Trump to push bin Salman to ease his demands and initiate direct negotiations involving the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Israel regarding a potential peace agreement in the coming months. “Saudi Arabia must adjust its stance during this visit. It’s crucial that the Trump-MBS meeting sets a clear path toward normalization,” one official conveyed.
Miki Zohar, Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sports, underlined the implications, stating that normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is “in Israel’s greatest national interest” and could transform the future of the Middle East. However, he emphasized that any agreement must secure crucial Israeli interests without recognizing a Palestinian state that could threaten security.
“Israel, cooperating with the Gulf states as a security power, poses a significant threat to our enemies,” Zohar added.
In addition to the diplomatic challenges, a Pentagon intelligence report raised security alarms regarding the F-35 deal, cautioning that Saudi Arabia’s close ties with China could lead to access to sensitive technology. Meanwhile, Turkey is also trying to reinstate its involvement in the F-35 program after being expelled in 2019 due to the acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system, which presents further complications for Israel amid Turkey’s increasingly adversarial rhetoric toward the country.
Unlike Turkey’s vehement opposition to the F-35, Israeli authorities view the potential sale to Saudi Arabia as part of a larger strategic realignment in the region. They suggest they are “less concerned about such arms in Saudi Arabia if they exist within a framework of regional security cooperation per the Abraham Accords, similar to the case with the UAE.”
In May, President Trump enacted a record $142 billion defense deal with Saudi Arabia, requiring the U.S. to furnish top-tier combat gear. At that time, Trump expressed a “fervent hope” for Saudi Arabia’s eventual participation in the Abraham Accords. However, this goal now increasingly appears contingent on whether Riyadh is willing to secure the F-35s tied to normalization.
