Trump administration finalizes largest defense cooperation agreement in US history during Riyadh visit
The United States has reached an unprecedented military agreement with Saudi Arabia, finalizing an arms package worth approximately $142 billion during President Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh on Tuesday. The White House described the massive deal as “the largest defense cooperation agreement” in American history.
The comprehensive agreement encompasses partnerships with more than a dozen major US defense contractors, covering a wide range of military capabilities including air and missile defense systems, air force and space advancement technologies, maritime security equipment, and communications infrastructure.
“The package signed today, the largest defense cooperation deal in US history, is a clear demonstration of our commitment to strengthening our partnership,” stated a White House fact sheet detailing the agreement.
Industry sources had previously indicated that defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp was expected to provide C-130 transport aircraft, missiles, and radar systems as part of the deal. Top executives from several major defense contractors including RTX Corp, Boeing Co, and Northrop Grumman Corp were reportedly present in Saudi Arabia for the signing, though the White House did not officially confirm which specific equipment or manufacturers were included in the final agreement.
The historic deal builds upon a long-standing arms relationship between the two nations. In 2017, during his first presidential term, Trump proposed approximately $110 billion in sales to the kingdom. However, only $14.5 billion of those sales had been initiated by 2018, as Congressional scrutiny intensified following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Former President Joe Biden’s administration had previously attempted to negotiate a defense pact with Riyadh as part of a broader diplomatic initiative that would have included Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel, but those efforts ultimately failed.
One significant question that remains unanswered is whether Saudi Arabia will be permitted to purchase Lockheed’s advanced F-35 fighter jets. According to sources familiar with the discussions, Riyadh has expressed interest in acquiring the sophisticated aircraft for years, but such a sale would potentially conflict with America’s longstanding commitment to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region.
Israel has operated F-35s for nine years and has built multiple squadrons of the stealth fighters. If approved, Saudi Arabia would become only the second Middle Eastern nation after Israel to possess these advanced combat aircraft, representing a significant shift in regional military capabilities.
The arms deal comes at a time of complex diplomatic maneuvering in the Middle East, with Trump’s administration pushing forward multiple initiatives across the region, including efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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