US approves sale of 50 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia: Congress raises concerns over risks of Chinese technology and Israel issue

US President Donald Trump’s administration has approved the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets, some of the world’s most advanced, to Saudi Arabia, in a major shift in long-standing Middle East military policy. But the proposed deal has raised deep concerns among Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress and several defense officials.

Israeli dominance and the risk of China The radar and surveillance avoidance or ‘stealth’ technology of this most modern fighter jet in the world is unique. Until now, Israel, the closest ally of the United States in the Middle East, has been the only one using this aircraft. Under US law, Israel is obliged to keep its military technology (QME) ahead of other countries in the region. As a result, if Saudi Arabia is given the same number (48) of F-35s, the question of Israel’s unique military advantage has arisen. Currently, Israel has 50 F-35s, which it plans to increase to 100.

On the other hand, several lawmakers, including Representative Raja Krishnamurthy, a Democrat from Illinois, have warned that China’s growing security ties with Saudi Arabia could risk sensitive military technology like the F-35 falling into Chinese hands.

Responding to the State Department’s concerns , the US State Department said that providing F-35s to Saudi Arabia would help achieve US foreign policy and national security objectives. The department claimed that Riyadh is a major non-NATO ally and a key player in maintaining stability in the Gulf region, and that the equipment would not upset the military balance in the region.

The deal builds on a long-standing relationship between US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two leaders met in Riyadh earlier this month to sign a $142 billion arms deal, one of the largest defense deals in US history. The F-35 fighter jets, each worth $82.5 million, are manufactured by US company Lockheed Martin.

It is worth noting that the US Congress strongly objected to the arms sale to Riyadh after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Later, the administration of former President Joe Biden considered the initial outline of providing F-35s to Saudi Arabia on the condition of normalizing relations with Israel (Abraham Accords), but it was not implemented at the time. Currently, the US Congress has 30 days to review and temporarily block this move taken by the Trump administration.