\n<\/p>\n
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, a Democrat, opposed the sale on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He warned “it could put the crown jewels of American military technology within reach of the Chinese Communist Party”.<\/p>\n
Other Democratic lawmakers and some American defence officials have raised similar concerns about giving F-35s to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
They said Riyadh might share the sensitive technology with China under a security partnership between the two countries.<\/p>\n
The state department said in announcing the deal on Thursday that it would support US “foreign policy and national security objectives”.<\/p>\n
It said the deal would improve “the security of a major non-Nato ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region”.<\/p>\n
“The proposed \u2060sale of this equipment and support will not alter the military \u2060balance in the region,” the state department added.<\/p>\n
Trump has a close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited the White House last November.<\/p>\n
The two also met in May last year in Riyadh, where a $142bn arms sale was sealed \u2013 described by the White House as the “largest defence sales agreement in history”.<\/p>\n
The latest proposed sale announced to Saudi Arabia would include 48 F-35s, which are built by the arms company Lockheed Martin.<\/p>\n
This would place the country on a level with Israel, which currently has a fleet of 50 jets.<\/p>\n
However, Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs announced in May, external<\/span><\/a> that it would procure another F-35 squadron.<\/p>\n