In a major development in global defense diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has cleared the path for selling 48 advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Valued at approximately $24 billion (around ₹2.3 lakh crore), this mega-defense agreement marks a crucial turn in Washington-Riyadh relations, though it still requires final approval from the US Congress.
Intelligence Agencies Raise Alarms Over China
Despite the immense financial scale of the deal, US intelligence agencies have expressed grave concerns. A recent report by the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) warns that sensitive F-35 technology could potentially leak to China. Given Saudi Arabia's growing military and technological cooperation with Beijing, American officials fear that Chinese intelligence might gain access to the radar and surveillance systems of America's most advanced stealth jet.
To mitigate these risks, the intelligence report strongly recommends restricting access to F-35 operational sites exclusively to authorized US and Saudi personnel. The deep economic and military ties between Riyadh and Beijing—including Chinese ballistic missile assistance and telecom infrastructure built by Huawei and ZTE—remain a persistent headache for Washington planners.
Regional Dynamics and Long Wait Times
The deal also revives debates surrounding the military balance in the Middle East, particularly concerning Israel, which currently remains the sole operator of F-35s in the region. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of these jets, estimates that production and delivery will take several years, meaning Saudi Arabia will not receive the aircraft immediately.
"Strategic partnerships in defense require rigorous safeguards to protect sensitive technologies while bolstering regional security and stability." — Pentagon Spokesperson, US Department of Defense
