The US Department of Defense announced that the State Department has approved a potential sale of F-16 fighter jets to Bahrain valued at $445 million, as Washington continues to expand military partnerships with Gulf allies.

According to the Pentagon, the US State Department also approved a separate $500 million deal to provide Saudi Arabia with a logistics support program, enabling sustained military operations and cooperation with American defense systems.

US–Saudi relations saw a turning point in 2025 when the White House confirmed the signing of a historic $142 billion arms agreement, described as the largest in the history of the US defense industry. The deal underscored deepening military coordination between the two sides at a time of heightened regional tensions.

In addition, the White House revealed that US President Donald Trump secured a Saudi commitment to invest $600 billion inside the United States as part of what was described as a “historic commitment” aimed at boosting economic partnership and trade ties between Washington and Riyadh.

A shift in US policy and the arms race

Traditionally, the US has withheld advanced weapons sales to Arab states that haven’t normalized ties with "Israel." However, there have recently been talks about a deal to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, though if the deal is approved, it could set a new precedent and fuel a fresh arms race in the Middle East.

Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer, confirmed that such a sale would be a "government-to-government agreement," while the White House and Pentagon declined to comment.

With Crown Prince bin Salman’s upcoming visit to Washington and U.S. lawmakers increasingly critical of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the deal is likely to spark debate on Capitol Hill.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that, if approved, this deal could be remembered as a historic turning point, one that ends decades of Israeli aerial supremacy in the region.

F-35 deal with Saudi Arabia threatens Israeli air superiority

Reuters reported that the US Department of Defense has advanced a potential deal to sell 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. According to Israeli outlet Yedioth Ahronoth, this move could significantly shift the regional balance of power.

American sources say Riyadh submitted the request directly to President Donald Trump earlier this year. After an extensive review, the Pentagon completed a technical evaluation, and the file now awaits final approval from the Secretary of Defense, administration officials, and Congress.

While no decision has been finalized, the deal's progress signals growing US openness to arming Saudi Arabia with advanced weaponry—marking a potential break from decades of arms policy restraint.

In Tel Aviv, the proposed sale has sparked concern. The deal could undermine the long-standing US commitment to maintaining "Israel’s qualitative military edge" in the region. Currently, the occupation is the only entity in the Middle East operating F-35 jets.