US intelligence warning against selling F-35s to Saudi Arabia

US intelligence has published reports warning that the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia could lead to sensitive technology leaking to China, due to Chinese access to bases in the kingdom and Saudi use of Chinese technology in communications. The report casts doubt on the ability of the Americans and Saudis to secure the sites.

US intelligence has published reports warning that the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia would create a risk of sensitive technology leaking to China, as reported by the New York Times. According to the report, a detailed assessment by the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency examined the Chinese military's access to bases in Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia's use of Chinese technology in its communications infrastructure. The report also casts doubt on the ability of the Americans and Saudis to maintain secure sites where F-35 technology would be located in the kingdom. Similar warnings were raised during attempts to sell the jets to the United Arab Emirates in 2020. Saudi Arabia has long sought to purchase the jets, and last November Trump agreed to the request. The warm relations between Saudi Arabia and the US have existed for decades, and Riyadh is the largest customer of US weaponry.