US President Donald Trump has confirmed that America will sell F-35 fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia. He said that these jets will be similar to the planes that have been given to Israel. Saudi Arabia has formally requested to purchase 48 F-35 jets. Upon completion of this deal, Israel’s status as the ‘sole operator’ of the F-35 in the Middle East will end. At the same time, the news of Saudi Arabia getting F-35 fighter aircraft may also increase the concern for India. The reason for this is the defense agreement on which Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had earlier agreed and which was much discussed at the global level.

Will Pakistan benefit from Saudi’s F-35?
This big question is arising because under that defense agreement, an attack on Pakistan will be considered an attack on Saudi. In such a situation, the concern is whether Pakistan can get indirect benefits from Saudi’s advanced weapons, like F-35? America exports advanced aircraft like F-35 with very strict controls. It provides them only to trusted countries and this involves strict rules related to consent of other partner countries, security guarantees, training and maintenance. Therefore, experts believe that after giving F-35 to Saudi, America will consider it a big risk to allow them to be shared with any other country, especially Pakistan.

Trump said – both are our close partners
Trump, sitting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, was asked that when America follows the policy of maintaining Israel’s military advantage, then how was the decision taken to give F-35 to Saudi also?

Trump responded that both Israel and Saudi are America’s ‘close partners’. He jokingly told the Crown Prince that Israel wanted the Saudis to be given ‘less capable jets’, ‘but I don’t think you would have been happy with that.’ Trump further said- ‘According to me, both the countries should get the best technology. We are going to make a deal. Saudi will buy F-35.

Is the F-35 deal linked to Israel-Saudi normalization?
The media asked Trump whether this arms deal is related to the possible process of normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel? Trump avoided giving a direct answer and just said – ‘Israel knows about the deal and they will be very happy with it.’

MBS reached White House after seven years, received grand welcome
This was the first visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House in the last seven years. He was given a grand welcome on the South Lawn with a military guard of honour, a gun salute and a flyover of American fighter planes.

Announcement to increase Saudi investment to 1 trillion dollars
During the meeting, MBS said that Saudi Arabia will increase its planned investment in America from $600 billion to $1 trillion. Trump immediately replied – ‘Okay, I liked it very much.’ When the Crown Prince was asked how such a large investment would be maintained despite low oil prices, he said that these deals – especially investments related to the semiconductor sector – are part of Saudi Arabia’s long-term development plans. Trump reiterated during the meeting that his mix of trade policies and diplomacy would result in $21 trillion in investment commitments by the end of the year.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have recently signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement. Under this agreement, if any one country is attacked, then it will be considered an attack on both. Ian Bremer, a geopolitical analyst on the matter and president of the Eurasia Group, said in an interview to India Today, ‘This agreement is going to bring a big change for India. If there is any military conflict between the border dispute between India and Pakistan, then now Saudi Arabia will be directly involved in the defense of Pakistan. This will completely change India’s security calculation.

Bremer said that this agreement will give Pakistan new geopolitical strength and confidence. Pakistan’s main ally will remain China, which gives it military and intelligence support. Now Pakistan’s formal security guarantee will give additional strength to Pakistan. This agreement may extend to Pakistan’s nuclear program, which Saudi Arabia has been considering an emergency option for a long time.

What did experts say about nuclear cooperation

Expert said that Saudi Arabia’s support in Pakistan’s nuclear program is no secret. Riyadh has been providing financial assistance to Pakistan’s Plutonium program for many years. In the event of crisis, Saudi Arabia has been considering Pakistan’s nuclear capacity as its emergency option. Now this cooperation has been formally given.

Disappointed with America, Riyadh’s new stand!

According to Bremmer, this agreement is part of Riyadh’s strategy of low dependence on America. Saudi Arabia was disappointed with the US quiet response after the recent attack in Qatar. Due to no action on Israel, Saudi Arabia felt that it would have to find his new security partners. This is the reason why Riyadh made the Raksha alliance public with Pakistan.

India’s reaction on Saudi-Pak deal

The Government of India has said that it is keeping a close watch on this agreement. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that India and Saudi Arabia’s partnership remains strong. At the same time, India made it clear that all necessary steps will be taken for its national security.

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