Intelligence officials warn China could exploit Saudi Arabia’s security ties to steal America’s most closely guarded stealth technology as Trump administration pushes ahead with controversial arms sale.
The Defense Intelligence Agency has raised serious security concerns about the Trump administration’s push to sell as many as 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia, warning that the kingdom’s extensive ties to China pose significant risks of technology theft.
The objections come ahead of a planned visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is expected to approve the multi-billion-dollar arms package, according to the New York Times.
Intelligence officials are particularly alarmed by the prospect of China aggressively seeking to extract classified technology from Saudi-operated F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. China is believed to have developed its J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth aircraft using technology stolen from the F-22 Raptor program, making the risk of espionage targeting Saudi Arabia’s potential F-35 fleet extremely high, Reuters reported.
Saudi Arabia maintains a comprehensive defense cooperation program with Beijing focused on developing ballistic missile systems, including previous Chinese sales of CSS-2 missiles to the kingdom. The Saudis also signed a security pact with Iran in 2023 that was brokered by China.
The United States has maintained a long-standing defense relationship with Saudi Arabia, and the Royal Saudi Air Force operates several American platforms, including Boeing F-15 fighters. However, Washington has never offered its most advanced military technology to Riyadh because of Saudi connections with states hostile to American interests, including Iran, Russia, and China.
A key component of the proposed F-35 sale involves Saudi Arabia normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel. President Donald Trump addressed the prospect at the American Business Forum in Miami, telling attendees: “We have a lot of people joining now the Abraham Accords. Hopefully, we’ll get Saudi Arabia very soon, but I’m not saying that. I’m not lobbying.”
The Saudi proposal follows Trump’s recent offer to sell F-35s to India, which was publicly declined by Indian leaders. India participated in Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter program until 2018 and currently operates the S-400 surface-to-air missile system. Turkey was removed from the F-35 joint program after it chose to procure that same Russian air defense equipment.
While Saudi Arabia does not maintain formal security agreements with Russia and does not operate Russian or Chinese military equipment, its defense partnerships with Beijing have drawn sustained scrutiny from American intelligence agencies.
The F-35 program represents the single largest defense undertaking in military history, surpassing even the Manhattan Project and Boeing B-29 Superfortress program of World War II. Offering access to the aircraft and its associated technology to a nation with documented security concerns and relationships with American adversaries has generated significant opposition within the Pentagon’s intelligence apparatus.
Trump has made his skepticism of American intelligence agencies clear throughout his political career. According to Politico, he has refused to meet with the Central Intelligence Agency on numerous occasions during his second term. The CIA’s briefing to the president represents one of the agency’s fundamental responsibilities, providing the commander-in-chief with the most critical national security information available.
Earlier this year, Trump welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Alaska for a summit meeting even as the war in Ukraine continued. The president instructed the U.S. Air Force to display some of its most highly classified aircraft for Putin’s arrival, including Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that flew over the meeting. Putin served as head of the Soviet-era KGB secret police before rising to power in Russia.
Key Takeaways
- The Defense Intelligence Agency has raised serious security concerns about selling 48 F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia ahead of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit.
- Intelligence officials warn that China could exploit Saudi Arabia’s existing defense partnerships with Beijing to extract classified F-35 technology.
- Saudi Arabia maintains a comprehensive defense cooperation program with China and signed a China-brokered security pact with Iran in 2023.
- The Trump administration is conditioning the sale on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.
- The F-35 program represents the largest defense undertaking in military history, and the proposed sale has generated significant Pentagon opposition.
