"Trump to Discuss $100 Billion Arms Deal During Saudi Visit Next Month"

Reuters reported on April 24 (local time) that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering selling more than $100 billion (143 trillion won) worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia. According to multiple sources, President Trump is expected to announce this plan during his visit to Saudi Arabia next month.

Sources stated that the sales list includes advanced weapons systems such as C-130 transport aircraft from U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, as well as missiles and radar systems. It is also reported that weapons from other U.S. defense companies, including RTX (Raytheon Technologies), Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics, will be included.

In 2017, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (left) met with U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by Reuters

Additionally, there are discussions about having several defense industry executives join the U.S. delegation visiting Saudi Arabia.

Sources expect that the deal for F-35 fighter jets, which Saudi Arabia has shown interest in for years, will be discussed. However, they believe it is unlikely that a purchase agreement will be signed during President Trump's visit.

In the past, Saudi Arabia was the largest importer of U.S. weapons. In 2017, during his first term, President Trump signed a plan to sell $110 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia over ten years. At the time, President Trump emphasized that selling weapons to Saudi Arabia would help create jobs in the United States.

In 2019, the U.S. Congress blocked arms exports to Saudi Arabia, citing reasons such as the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. However, President Trump approved arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Jordan without going through congressional approval procedures.

However, during the previous Joe Biden administration, the U.S. banned the export of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia in 2021 due to significant civilian casualties in the Yemeni civil war. As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalated with conflicts such as the war in Gaza, the ban was lifted last year. The Biden administration offered Saudi Arabia access to U.S. weapons on the condition that it stop purchasing Chinese-made weapons and restrict Chinese investment. It is not confirmed whether these conditions are included in the current deal.