Is Saudi Arabia trying to bribe Trump? After uranium deposits, there's F-35 on table

In the same week in mid-September, two announcements from Riyadh and Washington have drawn attention for their timing. Saudi Arabia's energy minister announced the discovery of roughly 110 million tonnes of ore containing promising concentrations of uranium and high levels of rare earth minerals near Medina. Around three days later, the US State Department notified Congress of its approval for a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. This is the first instance when an Arab state might gain access to America's most advanced fifth-generation stealth aircraft.

The timing, against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia's fight with Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, the US's reluctance to intervene militarily on Riyadh's behalf, and a possible understanding between Washington and the Houthis, has fuelled questions about whether the Arab kingdom is using economic and strategic leverage to secure American favour under President Donald Trump. In other words, there is speculation if this is a strategic deal, or a bribe?

The proposed package includes 48 conventional-takeoff-and-landing F-35s, 49 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines (48 installed, one spare), secure communications, electronic warfare support, training, spares and logistics. The State Department framed it as essential for "improving the security of a major non-Nato ally" and strengthening homeland defence and interoperability, while insisting it would not alter the regional military balance.

The State Department's language is carefully calibrated, seemingly to address the US's commitment to Israel's qualitative military edge in the Middle East region. The US and Israel have used F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in more than 3,000 combat strikes against Iran this year, though one of the aircraft was reportedly hit by Iranian fire.

The Saudi Embassy in Washington welcomed the move, stating, "The proposed F-35 sale reflects the strength and enduring nature of the Saudi-US strategic partnership and the continued advancement of our defense cooperation. For decades, Saudi-US security cooperation has contributed to regional stability, strengthened our collective defense capabilities, and advanced our shared security interests."

Adding more fuel to the speculations was Saudi Arabia's exit from China's digital currency project.

According to a Financial Times (FT) report on Sunday, Riyadh has withdrawn from the Beijing-led mBridge digital currency project. The mBridge initiative uses blockchain technology to enable central banks to conduct cross-border transactions directly, potentially reducing reliance on traditional, US dollar-dominated payment systems such as SWIFT.

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) confirmed that it stopped participating in the project after completing a planned technical test in May 2025. While sources cited by the FT said Saudi Arabia sought to avoid public attention and potential pressure from the US, an insider told the newspaper that SAMA continues to work with the programme quietly.

The sequence of events — first, the uranium find, then reports of US-Houthi contacts, the F-35 clearance, and then the exit from the China-led initiative — has prompted analysts and observers to ask whether Riyadh is engaging in high-stakes transactional diplomacy.

It must be noted that the Arab kingdom has long sought the F-35s. Previous efforts under earlier administrations stalled amid concerns over Israel's edge in the region. Trump had signalled openness earlier in May last year, including a massive nearly $142 billion arms package described by the White House as the largest defence cooperation agreement of its kind.

The latest F-35 step advances that trajectory, even though Saudi Arabia's immediate threats from the Houthis and the blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are not challenges that advanced stealth fighters can resolve. A US Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jet flies overhead during a demonstration of the aircraft's advanced combat capabilities. (Image: Getty Images) SAUDI'S URANIUM DISCOVERY AND NUCLEAR AMBITIONS AMID REGIONAL CHAOS

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced the uranium find at the International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference in Vienna.

Geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project in the Medina region revealed an estimated 110 million tonnes of ore with high concentrations of rare earths, especially heavy elements, alongside promising uranium levels. This is ore volume, not refined uranium or pure rare-earth concentrates, and recoverable quantities will depend on grade, extraction economics and processing.

The announcement nonetheless carries weight.

It follows a July 2026 US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation framework that opens the door for American companies to help develop the kingdom's civilian nuclear programme and, critically, gives Riyadh a pathway toward domestic uranium enrichment under agreed safeguards. Notably, Saudi Arabia has pursued energy diversification under Vision 2030, seeking to move beyond oil while building mining, critical minerals and nuclear capabilities.

The uranium find also raises questions about the dual-use potential of the resource, especially as the Middle East remains concerned about Iran's nuclear programme. Riyadh has said its nuclear ambitions are civilian and will remain under international safeguards. Currently, Israel is the only country in the Middle East known to possess nuclear weapons.

The discovery in Medina also comes amid growing US-China competition. Trade between Saudi and China hit over $100 billion annually by 2023-25, making China Saudi Arabia's top partner. Chinese FDI stock in Saudi rose 29% to $8.2 billion in 2024. Militarily, China has aided Saudi with solid-fuel ballistic missile production since the early 2020s.advertisementTHE LATEST HOUTHI CHALLENGE AND US RELUCTANCESaudi Arabia's most pressing military headache is not a high-tech air war but the stubborn, slipper-wearing, Toyota-riding, Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

The group has attempted drone attacks on the holy city of Mecca, Saudi's ships in the Red Sea, and recently mounted a ground offensive that seized key stretches of Yemen's Red Sea coast, including areas controlling approaches to the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have struggled to take back these captured areas.

The United States has shown no willingness to escalate on Saudi Arabia's behalf. Reuters reported that US officials met Houthi representatives at the US Embassy in Muscat, Oman, over the weekend of mid-September, facilitated by Omani mediation. According to accounts, the Houthi side reiterated commitment to the 2025 ceasefire with Washington, pledged not to attack American or Israeli vessels, and indicated that Saudi-linked shipping would remain a target.

US Vice President JD Vance publicly acknowledged direct conversations with the Houthis.

This dynamic has drawn pointed commentary.

Defence expert Lt Gen DP Pandey observed in a post on X, "Arm twist by not assisting in fight against Houthis. Saudis now give business to America by buying 24.3 Bn $ worth F35 fighter aircraft. This may not be of much use against Houthis immediately in any case." Pandey essentially sees the deal as a possible transactional response to Washington's reluctance to directly confront the Houthis, with Saudi Arabia offering the US a major defence contract in return for deeper strategic engagement.

Another assessment by an X user said, "So US approved $24.3 billion F-35 jet sale to Saudi Arabia. But does it really help. Saudi is fighting Houthis - Sandal wearing and shoulder mounted gun fighters who have already shot Saudi fighter jet without any air defense (sic). More and bigger weapons do not matter much, so far the willingness to fight is not there, US is laughing all the way to the bank with money."

Fifth-generation stealth fighters excel at penetrating sophisticated integrated air defences and conducting deep strikes against peer or near-peer adversaries. Against dispersed, low-signature guerrilla forces employing man-portable systems, drones and irregular tactics, the operational value is practically of no use. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces engage in clashes with Houthi rebels in Al-Jawf province. (Image: AFP) IS THE F-35 DEAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP OR BRIBERY?

The State Department's clearance moves the sale into a 30-day congressional review window. Opposition is expected. The 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi remains a major point of contention in Congress. US lawmakers from both parties had pushed for restrictions on arms sales to Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The war in Yemen has been another source of concern, with critics accusing Riyadh of conducting an air campaign that caused significant civilian casualties and humanitarian suffering.

More recent intelligence assessments, reported by The New York Times, raise a different alarm — the risk that China could gain access to sensitive F-35 technology through espionage in Saudi Arabia or via Beijing's expanding military and security relationship with Riyadh. A Defense Intelligence Agency assessment highlighted Chinese military access to certain Saudi facilities, the presence of Chinese telecommunications equipment (including from Huawei and ZTE) in Saudi infrastructure, and questions about whether secure sites for F-35 systems could be adequately protected.

These warnings have not halted the process.

Critics, including some online commentary, have framed the pattern in harsher terms, with one verified handle stating that "Agent Orange has been paid by Saudi royals with about $1.9 billion... He's sold out to the American media also... Trump Moves Ahead With F-35 Jet Sales to Saudi Arabia Despite Intelligence Concerns."

Arms sales have long been a tool of US foreign policy. Saudi Arabia has been the largest customer for American weapons for years. But the timing of the uranium announcement, Houthi advances and reported US-Houthi contacts, followed by the F-35 sale and exit from Beijing-led digital currency initiative has invited the interpretation that Riyadh might be using its money, minerals and arms purchases to get more from Trump.

For now, at least the optics suggest that Saudi Arabia has resources to offer, and is spending billions on America's top fighter jet.- EndsPublished By: Anand SinghPublished On: Sep 20, 2026 13:51 IST