Photo: Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/Released
The United States is preparing for a large-scale defence deal with Saudi Arabia worth more than $100 billion, Reuters reports , citing six informed sources. The package is expected to be presented during Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh in May.
This package could include the supply of C-130 aircraft, missiles, radars, MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones and other high-tech equipment from defence giants such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics and RTX (formerly Raytheon).
The US defence official stressed:
“The level of defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia is the highest in history – and we will continue to support this partnership.”
This is the second large-scale initiative involving Trump – in 2017, he announced a $110bn deal with Riyadh. However, only $14.5 billion of this was realised, in part due to criticism of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the war in Yemen.
The Biden administration subsequently suspended arms sales, but after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Hamas attacks in October 2023, the US position softened. In 2024, the sales ban was lifted.
Reuters also reports that Saudi Arabia has been seeking to buy F-35s since 2018 – but the US guarantees Israel a “qualitative military advantage”, which complicates deals with Arab countries.
