'Israel' may seek US guarantees over possible F-35 sale to Riyadh
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"Israel" is reportedly considering requesting security guarantees from the US if Washington moves forward with the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, linking the deal to potential normalization.
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US Air Force fighter aircraft F-35 performs aerobatic maneuvers on the second day of the Aero India 2025, a biennial event, at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 11, 2025. (AP )
"Israel" is considering asking the United States for security guarantees if Washington approves the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, Axios reported on Monday, citing two senior Israeli officials.
According to the report, the occupation regime has informed the Trump administration that such a sale should be conditional upon the normalization of ties between Riyadh and the Israeli occupation.
'Israel' wants to exchange F-35 for normalization
"We told the Trump administration that the supply of F-35s to Saudi Arabia needs to be subject to Saudi normalization with Israel," one official was quoted as saying.
The occupation entity reportedly raised concerns over the strategic proximity of Saudi territory, noting that the F-35s could reach Israeli airspace within minutes if deployed in the western part of the kingdom.
Trump announced Monday that the United States intends to sell advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, just one day before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to visit the White House for high-level talks.
“We will be doing that. We will be selling F-35s,” Trump told reporters when asked about the potential approval of the deal. Describing Riyadh as a strategic partner, he added, “They’ve been a great ally.”
The move signals a major deepening of US-Saudi defense cooperation and comes amid heightened regional military activity and geopolitical tensions. The F-35 sale would significantly bolster the kingdom’s air capabilities, potentially shifting the military balance in the Gulf.
"Israel" has privately informed the Trump administration that it does not object to a US sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, so long as the deal is directly tied to full diplomatic normalization between Riyadh and "Israel", Axios reported, citing two senior Israeli officials.
The White House discussions will focus on a potential US-Saudi security pact, the long-discussed F-35 package, and Washington’s push for a breakthrough in Israeli-Saudi normalization.
