After F-35 deal, Trump's nuclear move with Israel's Arab rival: IDF loses military edge in Mid-East?

Donald Trump is preparing a nuclear-scale shock for Benjamin Netanyahu as the U.S. moves toward a landmark deal with Saudi Arabia. With Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman set to arrive at the White House on November 18, Washington is pushing a civil nuclear cooperation framework, security guarantees, tech and defense coordination, and a potential F-35 sale — a move that directly challenges Israel’s long-protected “military edge” in the Middle East. Trump has already confirmed plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Riyadh, breaking Israel’s exclusive hold over the region’s most advanced aircraft. Alongside this, a nuclear energy deal is on table as Saudi Arabia seeks diversification beyond oil, parity with Iran, and stronger U.S. backing amid Middle East instability. But progress remains tied to a broader puzzle: U.S. demands on nuclear restrictions, Saudi insistence on a Palestinian state commitment, and stalled Israeli normalization. Trump, however, insists Riyadh will eventually join Abraham Accords.