U.S. Intelligence Raises Alarm Over Saudi F-35 Deal and China
U.S. intelligence officials have expressed significant concerns regarding the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, warning that it could provide China with access to some of the aircraft's most sensitive technologies. According to a report from The New York Times, American analysts fear that Beijing could leverage its extensive security, economic, and technological relationships with Riyadh to gather intelligence on classified systems integrated into the F-35s. The primary focus of these concerns is the advanced radar and intelligence-gathering capabilities of the aircraft.
The deal, which was announced by former President Donald Trump ahead of a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, involves the sale of 48 F-35 jets at an estimated cost of around $24 billion. Following the announcement, the proposed sale was submitted to Congress for review and has progressed through the approval process.
Prior to Trump's announcement, the Department of Defense had already issued an internal report highlighting the risks associated with China potentially gaining access to sensitive technologies related to the F-35. Recent assessments by American intelligence agencies have further scrutinized Chinese access to Saudi military bases and the use of Chinese-made communications equipment by Riyadh.
To mitigate these risks, U.S. intelligence officials have recommended restricting access to facilities where the F-35s' sensitive systems would be deployed, allowing entry only to Saudi and American personnel, including civilian contractors. The report raises questions about whether Saudi Arabia would be willing to limit its cooperation with Chinese military and intelligence organizations and remove equipment from Chinese technology firms such as Huawei and ZTE from relevant facilities.
Saudi-China Military Ties Raise Alarm
The growing military cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China has intensified these concerns. Riyadh has reportedly purchased ballistic missiles from Beijing, and there are indications that Chinese military assistance is aiding Saudi Arabia in developing independent military capabilities, establishing missile production facilities, and enhancing the operational effectiveness of its missile forces.
The proposed sale of F-35s has also sparked apprehension in Israel, which fears that providing Saudi Arabia with advanced fighter jets could undermine its qualitative military edge in the region. Israeli officials had anticipated that progress on the deal would be contingent upon Saudi Arabia normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel. However, Trump has indicated a willingness to advance the sale even in the absence of such an agreement.
Cleared to File
Concerns similar to those surrounding the current deal arose in 2020 when Trump announced plans to sell F-35 aircraft to the United Arab Emirates as part of the Abraham Accords. The UAE's security and technological ties with China faced scrutiny from within the U.S. defense establishment, and a renewed review under the Biden administration ultimately led to the suspension of that sale process.
It remains uncertain whether the intelligence warnings will delay the Saudi deal. Even if opposition arises in Congress, the Trump administration may seek to expedite the sale through an emergency process, citing the need for swift action due to the regional security situation. The intelligence warnings do not imply that an entire F-35 aircraft could be transferred to China but rather focus on the potential for classified technologies and intelligence to reach Beijing through espionage or indirect access to facilities housing the aircraft.
