Fri Apr 25 04:52:35 UTC 2025: ## Massive Arms Deal Looms as Trump Plans Middle East Trip
**Washington D.C.** – A potential arms package worth over $100 billion is being prepared for Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters, citing multiple sources. The deal, which could be announced during President Donald Trump’s upcoming Middle East trip next month, involves major US defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, RTX Corp, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics. The package is reportedly expected to include C-130 transport aircraft, missiles, and radar systems, although the sale of F-35 fighter jets is considered unlikely.
The proposed deal marks a significant shift from the policies of the previous administration. President Joe Biden’s attempts to forge a new defense pact with Saudi Arabia, which included restrictions on Chinese investment and arms purchases, were unsuccessful. While the White House and Saudi officials have yet to comment, a US defense official confirmed that security cooperation remains vital to the bilateral relationship. The contractors involved have also not yet responded to requests for comment.
The sale would represent a major reversal of the decrease in arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 and subsequent Congressional bans on offensive weapons sales. Those bans were lifted in 2024, amidst changing geopolitical realities and Saudi Arabia’s perceived importance in post-war Gaza reconstruction. Whether Trump’s proposed deal includes similar restrictions to those sought by Biden remains unclear. President Trump’s visit will include stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
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