President Donald Trump has authorized the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia as Riyadh commits to increasing its investments in the United States to one trillion dollars, following high-level talks in Washington.

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The White House announced that Trump approved a “significant defense sales package” that includes future deliveries of F-35 aircraft to Saudi Arabia. According to the statement released after Trump’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the agreement is intended to support the U.S. defense industrial base while ensuring that Saudi Arabia continues purchasing American military equipment.

The two sides also confirmed Riyadh’s plan to acquire nearly 300 U.S.-made tanks and signed a Strategic Defense Agreement designed to strengthen bilateral military cooperation.

The F-35 sale was authorized despite opposition from Israeli military leaders, who argued that the move could affect Israel’s security advantage in the region. Israel is currently the only regional actor operating advanced F-35 jets and has previously opposed similar sales to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

During the meeting, Trump urged the Saudi government to expand its investment in the United States to one trillion dollars. Mohammed bin Salman confirmed that Saudi commitments will rise from the 600 billion dollars announced earlier during Trump’s visit to Riyadh.

Washington and Riyadh also concluded agreements on civilian nuclear energy cooperation, artificial intelligence and critical minerals, with the stated aim of diversifying supply chains.

Trump further announced that he will designate Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, a status reserved for states with which the U.S. maintains close military and strategic cooperation. He described the decision as marking a “new era” in the bilateral relationship.

The president highlighted the expected economic impact of the expanded investments. “That means investments in factories, in companies, money on Wall Street. And what it really means for everyone, what really counts, are the jobs. Many jobs. We will have many jobs,” Trump said.

He has repeatedly referred to Saudi Arabia as a wealthy partner whose resources play a central role in sustaining the relationship.

The defense agreements, expanded investment commitments and new political designation signal a broad deepening of U.S.–Saudi ties, shaping a partnership that blends military cooperation with significant economic and technological engagement.

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