By Victor Akan
The United States is preparing to offer a massive $100 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia, as regional tensions mount following Iran’s advancement in civil nuclear capabilities.
According to sources familiar with the development, the proposal is expected to be announced during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May. The fresh military package marks a dramatic shift in Washington’s Gulf diplomacy, after the previous Biden administration’s failed attempt to seal a similar agreement.
The Biden-era proposal was tied to Riyadh normalising diplomatic relations with Israel. However, Saudi Arabia reportedly rejected the condition outright, particularly in light of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Biden’s offer included provisions granting the Saudis access to advanced US-made weapons in exchange for a freeze on Chinese arms purchases and a curb on Beijing’s growing economic footprint in the kingdom.
The White House, Pentagon and Saudi Government’s communication office have not responded to the international reports surrounding the proposed deal.
In his first term, President Trump had publicly lauded arms sales to Saudi Arabia, citing them as a boost to American jobs and manufacturing.
Lockheed Martin, the American defence giant previously accused of dispatching untested weaponry to Ukraine, is slated to be the primary supplier under the proposed deal. Industry analysts believe the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza have expedited the upgrading and real-world testing of American weapons systems, thereby enhancing their viability for export.
The forthcoming contract includes a broad suite of advanced weaponry, such as the C-130 military transport aircraft, precision-guided missiles and surveillance radars. Lockheed Martin is also expected to provide support systems and additional air platforms.
RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon Technologies, is expected to play a key role, alongside other major US defence firms including Boeing, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and General Atomics, four defence sources confirmed.
Among the most significant components of the package is a potential $20 billion deal involving General Atomics’ MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones and complementary aircraft, reportedly in the pipeline over the past year.
Three sources further revealed that multiple executives from the involved American defence firms are contemplating travel to Saudi Arabia as part of President Trump’s visiting delegation.
The proposed agreement is being watched closely by defence analysts and political observers alike, particularly in light of shifting power dynamics in West Asia and Washington’s intent to contain Chinese influence in the Gulf region.
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