President Donald Trump said Monday he intends to approve the sale of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, announcing the shift one day before hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a day of diplomacy.

“I will say that we will be doing that,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We’ll be selling the F-35s.”

The move would mark a major policy change with the potential to reshape the military balance in the Middle East and test Washington’s long-standing definition of Israel’s “qualitative military edge,” the benchmark that governs U.S. weapons sales in the region.

Saudi Arabia has asked to purchase as many as 48 F-35 fighters, a multibillion-dollar deal that recently passed a key Pentagon review ahead of the crown prince’s visit, Reuters reported earlier this month.

Riyadh has sought the jet for years. A senior White House official said before Trump spoke that the president planned to discuss the matter with the crown prince before making any final decision.

Personal appeal

Saudi Arabia, the largest buyer of U.S. arms, has pressed for the fighter as it looks to modernize its air force and counter regional threats, especially from Iran. The kingdom’s renewed push for two F-35 squadrons comes as the Trump administration signals deeper defense cooperation with Riyadh. The Saudi Air Force currently flies Boeing F-15s, European Tornados and Typhoons.

Saudi leaders made a direct appeal earlier this year to Trump, who has cultivated strong ties with the crown prince.

The Pentagon’s policy office has worked on the potential transaction for months, U.S. officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Washington evaluates weapons sales to the Middle East under rules ensuring Israel keeps its qualitative edge. The policy requires that Israel receive more advanced American weapons than neighboring Arab states.

The F-35, built with stealth technology designed to evade detection, is considered the world’s most advanced fighter jet. Israel has operated the aircraft for nearly a decade, building multiple squadrons and remaining the only Middle Eastern country with the system.

The aircraft has also figured into broader diplomacy. The Biden administration previously explored offering F-35s to Saudi Arabia as part of a normalization deal with Israel, though the talks stalled.

Congress could present hurdles to any final sale. Lawmakers have scrutinized weapons deals with Riyadh since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and several remain wary of expanding military cooperation with the kingdom.