Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
President Donald Trump indicated on Monday that he plans to move forward with a major arms deal that would allow Saudi Arabia to purchase advanced U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the U.S. “will be selling the F-35s,” confirming growing speculation ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington.
If finalized, the sale would represent a significant shift in U.S. defense policy and could reshape the military balance in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has reportedly requested up to 48 F-35 aircraft, a multibillion-dollar deal that recently cleared an important Pentagon review, according to Reuters. The kingdom has long sought access to the stealth fighter as part of its effort to modernize its air force and counter regional threats, especially from Iran.
The Saudi Air Force currently operates a fleet that includes Boeing F-15s and European-made Tornado and Typhoon jets, but acquiring the F-35 would provide a major technological upgrade. The aircraft’s advanced stealth features and combat capabilities have made it the world’s most sought-after fighter jet. Israel, the only Middle Eastern country currently flying the F-35, has used the aircraft for nearly a decade and continues to expand its fleet.
Any sale of the F-35 to regional states is closely evaluated under Washington’s long-standing obligation to preserve Israel’s “qualitative military edge,” which ensures Israel maintains superior defense capabilities. U.S. officials say this consideration remains central to the approval process.
Saudi Arabia made a direct appeal to Trump earlier this year, and the Pentagon’s policy office has spent months reviewing the proposal. However, congressional approval remains a potential hurdle. Lawmakers have previously opposed large arms deals with Riyadh due to human rights concerns, particularly following the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Biden administration had also weighed offering F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia as part of a broader diplomatic package tied to Saudi-Israel normalization efforts, but those talks stalled.
This renewed push for advanced U.S. military cooperation underscores Washington’s evolving defense partnership with Riyadh and its strategic calculations in the region.
