AdvertisementAdvertisementUS President Donald Trump speaks to the media at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, Nov 16, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon)18 Nov 2025 08:18AM Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInRead a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST President Donald Trump said Monday (Nov 17) the United States would sell F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia, a day before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits the White House for talks."We will be doing that. We will be selling F-35s," Trump told reporters when asked if Washington would agree to sell Riyadh the jets at Tuesday's meeting. "They've been a great ally," he added.Riyadh has long been seeking to buy F-35 fighter jets, currently only owned by Israel in the Middle East.Israeli officials have voiced concern about the sale of the planes to Saudi Arabia, despite a push for the kingdom to normalise relations.In another area of past contention, a source familiar with negotiations said that Trump and the prince would sign a deal on a framework for civilian nuclear cooperation.Saudi Arabia, one of the world's top oil producers, says it wants to diversify from fossil fuels and is looking for the advanced US technology available from a so-called "123 agreement".Saudi prince, eyeing defence pledge, to meet Trump after long US absenceCommentary: The post-American order starts in Riyadh and IslamabadBut such agreements are subject to tight rules against proliferation, and Congress would be expected to scrutinise any full accord.Saudi Arabia says it is not seeking nuclear weapons, and it recently entered an enhanced defence partnership with Pakistan, a nuclear power.The United States has so far only allowed the sales of F-35s to its closest allies, including a number of European NATO allies and Israel.Washington kicked Turkey out of the F-35 program in 2019 because Ankara's purchase of a Russian air defence system sparked fears that Moscow could acquire the plane's technology through the back door.The Saudi prince and de facto ruler is making his first US visit since the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents prompted worldwide outrage and briefly upended ties.Prince Mohammed, who hosted Trump earlier this year, will press for security guarantees, while Trump will urge him to normalise ties with Israel.Saudi Arabia is unlikely to agree to normalisation at this stage.Source: AFP/fhSign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST