WASHINGTON (Realist English). The administration of President Donald Trump is preparing a landmark arms and defense technology package for Saudi Arabia in a bid to secure Riyadh’s formal recognition of Israel, according to Reuters sources.
The proposed deal includes weapons and military technology worth over $100 billion, with contributions from major U.S. defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, RTX (formerly Raytheon), Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics. Items under discussion reportedly include C-130 transport aircraft, radar systems, missiles, and MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones. A single component of the deal — the General Atomics drone package — is estimated at $20 billion.
In return, the White House is seeking Saudi Arabia’s agreement to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. While the Palestinian issue is not expected to be the focal point, U.S. negotiators are said to be working on language that addresses core Palestinian concerns.
The broader agreement may include a mutual defense pact, modeled after U.S. treaties with Japan and South Korea, offering Saudi Arabia formal security guarantees. A similar attempt by the Biden administration failed after the outbreak of the Israel–Gaza conflict, which derailed ongoing talks.
According to Reuters, the package under discussion could become one of the largest in the history of the U.S. defense industry. A formal announcement is expected in May, during President Trump’s planned visit to the kingdom.
The Realist editorial team views this move as a strategic assertion of Trump’s growing influence in the Middle East and a direct attempt to sideline China’s diplomatic gains in the region. By securing a defense alliance with Riyadh and offering advanced weapons systems, Washington is elevating U.S.–Saudi ties to a quasi-NATO level. However, this could also escalate regional tensions — particularly due to the sidelining of the Palestinian issue and the heightened confrontation with Iran.
