US Treasury chief backs F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has voiced support for the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, describing the kingdom as a “valuable” ally in the region.

In an interview with Fox News, Bessent highlighted multiple reasons for the US-Saudi partnership:

“First, there's the military. Saudis are going to be buying F-35s, coveted by everyone around the world, proof that they are a valuable ally. Two, our great economy and the reserve currency status of the dollar. … And three, our technology and innovation economy,” he said.

Bessent joined President Trump on November 18 for a high-profile Oval Office meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). During the visit, MBS pledged to invest nearly $1 trillion in the US economy over the next year.

Bessent described the president as "at his best" during the crown prince’s first visit to the White House in seven years, crediting Trump with attracting "investments like we've never seen."

"The entire Biden administration [investment] was one trillion over four years," he said. "We've got many single investments that are bigger than the Biden administration took in one year."

By Aghakazim Guliyev