WASHINGTON: The United States is preparing to present Saudi Arabia with a weapons package exceeding $100 billion, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The announcement is expected to coincide with former President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the kingdom.
This prospective deal follows the Biden administration’s unsuccessful attempt to secure a broader defense agreement with Riyadh. That effort included a proposal for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, in exchange for enhanced access to advanced U.S. weapons and a reduction in military and financial ties with China. It remains unclear whether Trump’s offer includes similar conditions.
Neither the White House nor the Saudi government provided immediate comments on the matter.
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “Our defense partnership with Saudi Arabia has only grown stronger under President Trump’s leadership. Security cooperation is a critical aspect of this relationship, and we will continue working with the Kingdom to support their defense needs.”
The U.S. has historically been a major arms supplier to Saudi Arabia. In 2017, Trump proposed a $110 billion weapons sale, but by 2018 only $14.5 billion worth had been executed. Congressional scrutiny intensified following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In 2021, under President Biden, Congress imposed a ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, citing the Khashoggi case and humanitarian concerns related to the war in Yemen.
Under U.S. law, all major international arms sales are subject to Congressional review before they can proceed.
Among the items reportedly under discussion is a potential deal involving Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets—a long-standing interest for Riyadh. However, three sources noted that while the topic may be raised, a finalized F-35 agreement is unlikely to materialize during the visit.
