Holiday Ayo - The United States and Saudi Arabia signed several deals, including the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets, during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) visit to the White House on Tuesday (November 18). The deals were signed despite Israeli objections.

US President Donald Trump, as reported by AFP and Anadolu Agency on Wednesday (November 19), said that Saudi Arabia would purchase "the highest quality" F-35 stealth fighter jets, seemingly dismissing Tel Aviv's concerns that the sale would erode Israel's military edge in the Middle East.

Trump said that the fighter jets planned for sale to Saudi Arabia would be "quite similar" to models already sold to Israel. He called both countries "great" US allies.

"I understand they want you to get a lower-caliber aircraft. I don't think that makes you too happy," Trump told MBS during a meeting with him at the White House.

"Both countries are great allies. Israel is a great ally, and we're looking at that right now. But as far as I'm concerned, I think both countries are at a level where they should be getting the best," Trump said.

The sale of US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia has drawn objections from Israel.

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) sharply criticized it, saying such a sale "would substantially weaken Israel's qualitative military edge and would place highly sensitive American technology within the reach of a regime hostile to US interests."

The ZOA cited US arms export law, known as 22 US Code 2776(h), which requires Washington to maintain Israel's ability to confront regional threats with minimal harm.

According to the ZOA, approving the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, reportedly totaling 48, significantly exceeding Israel's current fleet, would directly violate that rule.

The US administration has considered selling advanced weapons to Gulf states, but has traditionally restricted such transfers to ensure Israel maintains a decisive military advantage.

Meanwhile, the White House announced in a statement that the US and Saudi Arabia had signed agreements on civilian nuclear energy and a package of arms sales, including F-35 stealth fighter jets. Agreements on critical minerals were also signed.

The US-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement (SDA), signed directly by Trump and MBS, according to the White House, will make it easier for US defense companies to operate in Saudi Arabia.

The deal also secured "renewed burden-sharing funding from Saudi Arabia to cover US costs" and affirmed that Riyadh views Washington as a key strategic partner.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman separately said that the SDA signed by Trump and MBS "affirms the two countries' strong commitment to deepening their strategic partnership, enhancing regional security, and advancing global peace and stability."

In a statement, the White House announced that Trump had approved a "major defense sales package" that includes the future delivery of advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets.

As part of the arms sales package, Saudi Arabia will also purchase approximately 300 US-made tanks.

The White House said the two countries also ratified a "joint declaration" on civil nuclear energy that "establishes the legal foundation for a multi-billion dollar, decades-long nuclear energy partnership" aligned with "robust nonproliferation standards."

The joint declaration, according to the White House, affirmed that US companies would be Saudi Arabia's preferred partners for civil nuclear cooperation.

Meanwhile, in his meeting with Trump, MBS said Saudi Arabia would increase its investment in the US to US$1 trillion, from US$600 billion.