WASHINGTON: United States (US) President Donald Trump Tuesday announced plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
He made this announcement ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) as the White House is set to welcome the latter today. While Speaking to the media in the Oval Office, President Trump said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is arriving in the United States today and confirmed the sale of the advanced jets to the kingdom.
According to international media reports, Saudi Arabia intends to purchase 48 aircraft in a deal worth several billion dollars. During his Oval Office briefing, President Trump further stated that Iran’s nuclear capabilities have been neutralized. He also announced plans to deploy troops in cities plagued by crime and revealed the formation of a special task force ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Also Read: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia sign mutual defence pact in Riyadh
Crown Prince visit:
The Crown Prince is scheduled to meet President Trump at the White House today. The discussions are expected to focus on defense cooperation, artificial intelligence, and civilian nuclear programs.
Saudi Arabia is seeking formal security guarantees from the United States. President Trump is also working to fulfill commitments of $600 billion in Saudi investments, pledged during his visit to the kingdom in May.
The upcoming meeting paves the way for talks on major business deals worth billions, nuclear cooperation, and initiatives aimed at normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
These agreements are likely to include significant investments in U.S. AI infrastructure, expanded collaboration on civil nuclear energy, defense sales to strengthen military ties, and the execution of Saudi Arabia’s $600 billion investment pledge through multiple targeted projects.
