Trump described the upcoming meeting as“more than a meeting, we're honoring Saudi Arabia,” emphasizing that economic and defense agreements, including potential arms deals, will be discussed. He highlighted growing regional interest in normalization since joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June, which he claimed“put Iran out of business.”

The president confirmed that Saudi Arabia has requested a significant purchase of F-35 stealth fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.“They want to buy a lot of jets,” Trump said, adding that the request is under careful review and may feature in White House negotiations.

A Pentagon intelligence assessment, reported by the New York Times, warned that a potential F-35 sale could risk China accessing sensitive aircraft technology, raising concerns among U.S. defense officials. Despite these warnings, Trump stressed that discussions with Saudi Arabia would continue.

Trump expressed hope that other countries would follow Saudi Arabia in joining the Abraham Accords.“When Saudi Arabia joins, everyone will join,” he said, reflecting his administration's ongoing efforts to expand Middle East normalization.

The Abraham Accords, first signed by the UAE and Bahrain in 2020, ended a decades-long Arab-Israeli diplomatic impasse. Morocco and Sudan later joined, marking the growing momentum for regional normalization.

Observers say Saudi Arabia's accession could be a major diplomatic breakthrough, potentially encouraging additional Gulf states to formalize relations with Israel and strengthening regional stability.

Analysts also note that the F-35 discussions hold strategic significance, enhancing Saudi defense capabilities while reinforcing U.S.-Saudi relations amid broader geopolitical tensions in the Gulf.

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