Published: April 26, 2025, 04:30 PM
The United States is preparing to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package exceeding $100 billion, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The announcement is expected to coincide with former President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the kingdom in May.
This move follows the Biden administration’s unsuccessful attempt to secure a defense pact with Riyadh, a broader initiative aimed at normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations. Biden’s proposal included offering Saudi Arabia access to more advanced U.S. weaponry in exchange for halting Chinese arms purchases and limiting Beijing’s investments. It remains unclear whether Trump’s offer carries similar conditions.
The White House and Saudi Arabia’s communications office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
"Our defense relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is stronger than ever under President Trump’s leadership," said a U.S. defense official. "Maintaining security cooperation remains crucial, and we will continue working with Saudi Arabia to meet their defense needs."
During his first term, Trump touted arms sales to Saudi Arabia as beneficial for U.S. jobs.
Lockheed Martin is expected to supply a range of advanced weapons, including C-130 transport aircraft, along with missiles and radar systems, according to two sources. RTX Corp (formerly Raytheon Technologies) is also poised to play a major role, alongside other defense giants like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics, four sources said.
All sources requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.
RTX, Northrop, and General Atomics declined to comment, while Boeing did not respond to a request for comment. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson emphasized that foreign military sales are government-to-government deals, referring inquiries to the U.S. government.
It remains unclear how many of the proposed deals are new; two sources said several have been in development for years. For instance, Saudi Arabia first expressed interest in General Atomics drones in 2018. Over the past year, negotiations for a $20 billion deal involving MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones and other aircraft gained momentum, a source said.
Several defense industry executives are considering joining the delegation traveling to Saudi Arabia, according to three sources.
The U.S. has a long history of supplying arms to Saudi Arabia. In 2017, Trump announced approximately $110 billion in proposed sales. However, by 2018, only $14.5 billion worth of deals had been initiated, prompting congressional scrutiny following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In 2021, Congress banned offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia under Biden’s leadership, aiming to pressure the kingdom over the Yemen war and human rights concerns.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 disrupted global energy markets, Washington gradually softened its stance. The Biden administration lifted the offensive weapons ban in 2024, working more closely with Riyadh following Hamas’ October 7 attack and broader efforts for post-war Gaza planning.
Saudi Arabia’s long-standing interest in acquiring Lockheed’s F-35 fighter jets is expected to come up during the trip, though three sources indicated an F-35 deal remains unlikely to be finalized at this time.
The U.S. maintains a policy ensuring Israel’s "Qualitative Military Edge" (QME), guaranteeing Israel access to more advanced American weaponry than its regional neighbors. Israel has operated F-35s for nine years and has built multiple squadrons.
