U.S. Eyes $100B+ Arms Deal with Saudi Arabia Amid Shifting Middle East Alliances

The United States is preparing to offer Saudi Arabia a defense package exceeding $100 billion, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The proposed deal is expected to be announced during President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Riyadh in May.

The arms package would mark a renewed commitment to U.S.-Saudi defense ties, particularly after the Biden administration’s failed attempts to secure a defense pact tied to normalization with Israel. While Biden’s offer included advanced weapons in exchange for curbing Chinese ties, it remains unclear whether Trump’s proposal includes similar conditions.

A U.S. Defense official emphasized that military cooperation with Saudi Arabia is "stronger than ever" under Trump, citing it as a cornerstone of regional security and economic growth. Trump previously touted arms deals with the Kingdom as job creators for the U.S. defense industry.

The package could include Lockheed Martin’s C-130 aircraft, missiles, radars, and potentially discussions around the long-coveted F-35 jets—though a final F-35 deal appears unlikely at this stage. Other key players reportedly involved include RTX Corp, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics, which may provide MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, part of a $20 billion deal that’s been progressing since 2018.

The U.S. maintains a policy of preserving Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge, making it unlikely Saudi Arabia will receive weapons more advanced than those supplied to Israel, which has operated F-35s since 2016.

Though offensive weapon sales to Saudi Arabia were restricted under Biden in response to the Khashoggi killing and the Yemen conflict, the ban was lifted in 2024 amid changing geopolitical priorities, including cooperation on post-war Gaza.

Congress must still approve any major arms deals under U.S. law, ensuring further scrutiny ahead.