F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia Sparks Concerns About Effectiveness and Qualitative Military Edge

The US government has notified Congress of its plan to sell 30 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Saudi Arabia for $24 billion. This deal is intended to strengthen Saudi Arabia's defenses against threats from Yemen and Iran, but critics argue that it will not effectively address these issues.

Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman faces a growing crisis in his tenure, with the Houthi rebels seizing key infrastructure in Yemen and threatening Saudi Arabia's ability to export oil. However, experts say that the F-35 sale will not be enough to resolve this problem.

The sale also raises concerns about the US commitment to maintaining Israel's Qualitative Military Edge, as well as questions of trust given Saudi Arabia's relationships with China and Turkey. Dr. Michael Rubin, director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum, notes that the F-35 deal may be part of a larger plan to tie the US to Saudi Arabia in the face of growing challenges from Iran.