The Pentagon has warned about the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and its impact on U.S. national security and the country's relations with China. These jets will be offered to Riyadh for a value of $24 billion, raising serious concerns about China's influence in Saudi Arabia's military infrastructure.
Intelligence Concerns About China's Influence
One U.S. official stated that the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency prepared a report months ago examining China's military access to Saudi bases and the country's use of Chinese technology in telecommunications infrastructure. According to this official, the assessment includes doubts about the ability of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to secure advanced technologies that will be transferred to Riyadh with the purchase of F-35s.
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The Pentagon is particularly concerned about the protection of the advanced radar and surveillance systems of these jets and has emphasized that only Saudi and American officers and contractors should have access to the storage facilities of these technologies. However, some Saudi officials may be unwilling to remove Chinese technology from their infrastructure.
Saudi Military Relations and Israeli Concerns
Saudi Arabia's military relations with China have become one of Washington's main concerns. Riyadh has purchased ballistic missiles from Beijing, and China has assisted Saudi Arabia in the construction of these missiles and the establishment of production facilities. This has heightened concerns in Washington and Tel Aviv, especially since Israel is the only Middle Eastern country that possesses these jets.
Some Israeli officials have expressed strong concerns about the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia, as these jets are directly used in Israeli airstrikes against the Islamic Republic. American policymakers have also sought to maintain Israel's "qualitative military edge" in the region since the Arab-Israeli war in 1973.
While some American lawmakers have pressured the White House to respond to intelligence warnings, similar reports had emerged in the past after Donald Trump's approval of the F-35 sale to the United Arab Emirates. The Biden administration also reviewed the sale to the Emirates before production and delivery of these jets began.
In light of increasing threats from the Islamic Republic and the Houthis in Yemen, Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, is seeking to strengthen his country's military capabilities, making this one of his top priorities. Additionally, Trump agreed to assist in launching Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program, which has also raised security concerns.
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