According to U.S. media reports, President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and praised the close cooperation between the kingdom and the United States.
This announcement was made ahead of the highly anticipated Washington visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which is his first visit to the United States in more than seven years.
When asked if the U.S. would sell jets to Saudi Arabia, Trump said: "I would say we will do it. We will sell the F-35."
The prince's visit is expected to bring a wish list, including a formal assurance from Trump regarding the scope of U.S. military protection for Saudi Arabia and an agreement to purchase American-made F-35 fighter jets - one of the most advanced aircraft in the world.
Trump spoke about Saudi Arabia, saying: "They have always been great allies."
However, the Republican administration has been cautious about undermining Israel's "qualitative military advantage" over its neighbors, especially as Trump relies on Israeli support for the success of his Gaza peace plan.
Another long-standing concern has also hindered similar potential deals with the United Arab Emirates, namely that F-35 technology could be stolen or somehow transferred to China, which has close ties with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Trump's announcement comes at a time when he is desperately trying to convince Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalize relations.
He has spoken about efforts to continue the Abraham Accords from his first term - a project that formally established commercial and diplomatic relations between Israel and three Arab countries - and sees it as a key part of a long-term stability plan in the Middle East, as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues.
"I hope Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords soon," Trump told reporters on Friday as he boarded Air Force One to spend the weekend in Florida.
However, Trump's optimistic outlook on the possibility of a quick agreement through U.S. mediation is tempered by more cautious internal assessments.
Saudi Arabia has clearly stated that ensuring the establishment of a Palestinian state is one of the conditions for the kingdom signing the agreement - a position that Israel strongly opposes.
According to three senior officials who did not want to be named, Saudi Arabia is unlikely to sign the agreement in the short term, but there is cautious optimism that an agreement may be reached before the end of Trump's second term.
The Trump administration officially notified Congress in November 2020 of its plan to sell 50 stealth F-35 fighter jets to the UAE as part of a broader $23 billion arms sale package aimed at countering potential threats from Iran, despite concerns from Israel.
The UAE's statement came shortly after Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden and followed the signing of the Abraham Accords with the UAE.
But shortly after taking office in January 2021, Biden suspended this sales plan.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849083202960396/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.