When President Donald Trump announced that Saudi Arabia would be allowed to purchase the F‑35 fighter jet, the move was heralded as a breakthrough in Gulf security. Yet beneath the rhetoric lies a more complex reality: the deal is less about Riyadh’s military modernisation than Washington’s balancing act—reassuring Israel, bolstering its defence industry, and binding Saudi Arabia more tightly to American power. For Saudi Arabia, the jets are a coveted symbol. They represent entry into the exclusive club of fifth‑generation aircraft operators, a status long reserved for Israel in the Middle East. But the aircraft Riyadh will receive are not … Continue reading Prestige Without Power: Saudi Arabia’s F‑35 Gamble and Washington’s Leverage