Trump confirms US F-35 jet sale to Saudi Arabia

"We will be doing that. We will be selling F-35 jets," Trump said. "They've been a great ally."

During the visit, which will take place at the White House on Tuesday, the two leaders are expected to discuss defense and civilian nuclear energy agreements. This is the first visit by Saudi Arabia's de facto leader since the murder and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents seven years ago.

A US intelligence assessment stated that Prince Mohammed approved the operation that led to the killing. The Crown Prince has denied any role in the murder.

Prince Mohammed's last visit was during Trump's first term in 2018, the same year Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul.

Although former President Joe Biden did not host the Crown Prince and promised to declare the country a "pariah" due to its human rights record, Biden visited Saudi Arabia in 2022 to reach agreements on other issues. Biden said he raised Khashoggi's murder at that meeting.

Trump and the Crown Prince have already met in Riyadh in May. There, the US agreed to sell weapons worth approximately $142 billion (£107 billion) to Saudi Arabia, in what the White House described as "the largest defense sales agreement in history," part of a $600 billion investment deal. Saudi Arabia is the largest buyer of US weapons.

Some US defense officials have expressed concern about the potential sale of the F-35, considered the world's most advanced fighter aircraft, to Saudi Arabia. They told US media that they fear it would give Saudi Arabia access to sensitive stealth technology, which it could share with China under a security partnership between the two powers.

Israeli officials are also concerned, telling US and local media that the deal has the potential to harm the country's military position. Israel is America's closest ally in the Middle East and the only country in the region with F-35s.

According to lead manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the average price of an F-35A jet is $82.5 million.

During Tuesday's meeting, Trump is also expected to pressure Saudi Arabia to sign the Abraham Accords he brokered and normalize relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia says this is conditional on the creation of a Palestinian state – which the current Israeli government rejects.