U.S. set to approve F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia

Donald Trump signalled his readiness to approve Riyadh’s request for up to 48 F-35 jets.

Transcript

00:00Welcome back. U.S. President Donald Trump says he plans to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia,

00:08ahead of a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington today.

00:12Saudi Arabia has requested up to 48 jets in a multi-billion dollar package recently cleared by a Pentagon review.

00:21If approved, it would be the first sale of F-35s to the kingdom.

00:25The aircraft are part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to modernize its air force and counter Iran.

00:31Now, any deal would still need congressional approval, where concerns remain over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

00:40This visit is bin Salman's first to the U.S. since that killing.

00:44He denies ordering it, but accepts responsibility as Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler.

00:49Now, Trump, meanwhile, hoping to build on a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge from his visit to Riyadh earlier this year.