White House to Sign Deal with Saudi Arabia Amid Tensions with China and Israel

The US is expected to approve a deal allowing Saudi Arabia to acquire dozens of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets, despite Pentagon concerns about sensitive technology access to China. The proposal, which has already cleared a major hurdle within the US Department of Defense, is expected to be signed during a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House in November 2025. The deal has sparked resistance within the US government, with concerns about the potential impact on Israel’s ‘qualitative military edge’ in the region and the normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords framework. Bloomberg News cited a White House official as saying the deal could be signed during the Crown Prince’s visit. AeroTime.