Stealth for Sale: Washington’s $24 Billion Arms Bet on Riyadh

Transactional diplomacy has once again triumphed over strategic hesitation in Washington. The executive approval of a $24 billion defense package granting Saudi Arabia 48 F-35 stealth fighters marks a significant shift in American foreign policy, placing commercial gains and pragmatic partnerships firmly ahead of traditional security anxieties.

Lockheed Martin’s flagship warplane, priced at roughly $82.5 million per unit for its F-35A variant, represents the pinnacle of American aviation engineering. Riyadh has sought the advanced platform for years to solidify its standing as Washington's top weapons customer. Defending the massive deal, the State Department argued that the transaction supports foreign policy and national security objectives while strengthening the security of a major non-Nato ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region. Official lines maintain that the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the military balance in the region.

Capitol Hill now enters a mandatory 30-day review period where skeptical lawmakers may attempt to block the transfer. Skepticism is particularly sharp among Democrats and select defense officials who view Riyadh’s deepening security relations with Beijing as an unacceptable vulnerability. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois warned that transferring such hardware creates a direct risk of sensitive military intelligence falling into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.

Beyond technological espionage, the sale challenges long-standing regional military equilibrium. By acquiring 48 jets, Saudi Arabia’s stealth fleet would nearly match Israel’s current arsenal of 50 aircraft. While US law mandates a qualitative military edge for Israel, Jerusalem has already responded to shifting regional realities by announcing plans last May to procure an additional F-35 squadron. The deal also follows earlier, faltering efforts under the Biden administration to use the advanced jets as leverage to secure normalized diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

This latest arrangement underscores the durable relationship between Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following a record $142 billion arms deal signed in Riyadh last year. However, high-value procurement does not guarantee unlimited American intervention. Even as Saudi-backed forces lose ground along the Red Sea coast to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, Washington maintains clear boundaries. Despite direct personal requests from the Saudi crown prince for US military strikes against Houthi targets, the White House has declined to deploy American forces directly into the conflict.

Written by Freya Stensrud freya.stensrud@alpineweekly.com