A potential agreement could be declared during the upcoming visit by US President Donald Trump to the Middle East next month.
Sources close to the matter have revealed to Reuters that the United States is planning to provide Saudi Arabia with a package of arms amounting to more than $100bn. This move is allegedly being made ahead of Trump’s upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
The deal would involve leading defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, RTX Corp, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics, supplying Saudi Arabia with advanced weapon systems. Executives from these companies are expected to accompany Trump’s delegation on his visit.
The package may include a variety of arms, such as C-130 transport aircraft, missiles, and radar systems, according to the sources. However, Saudi Arabia is unlikely to gain access to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet, as only select countries, including NATO allies and certain other nations like Japan, South Korea, and Australia, are allowed to purchase this aircraft from the US.
President Biden, Trump’s predecessor, had attempted to establish a new defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, with the goal of normalizing relations with Israel. This proposed pact also aimed to limit Chinese investment and prevent arms purchases from Beijing. However, Reuters was unable to confirm whether Trump’s proposed deal would include similar restrictions.
Neither the White House nor Saudi officials promptly responded to requests for comment. However, a US defense official stated that “security cooperation remains an important component” of the US-Saudi relationship. None of the defense contractors mentioned by Reuters replied to inquiries.
Historically, the US has been a major arms supplier to Saudi Arabia. However, sales declined in 2018 after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In 2021, the US Congress prohibited the sale of certain weapons to Saudi Arabia in response to Khashoggi’s murder and Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Yemen conflict.
In 2022, the Biden administration softened its stance on Saudi Arabia due to the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on global oil supplies. The ban on the sale of certain weapons was lifted in 2024, with Saudi Arabia being viewed as a crucial partner by the US in the post-war reconstruction of Gaza.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/25/us-to-offer-saudi-arabia-100bn-weapons-deal-as-trump-visit-planned-report?traffic_source=rss
