President Donald Trump announced a new Strategic Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia this week, which includes the sale of stealth F-35 fighter jets. However, details about the agreement remain sparse, raising questions about its implications for the Middle East.

During Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington, Trump also designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally. He stated that Saudi Arabia plans to increase its investment in the United States to $1 trillion, a significant rise from the $600 million pledged during Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.

A White House fact sheet provided limited information about the agreement, confirming the sale of an unspecified number of F-35s and 300 U.S.-made tanks. It also aims to facilitate American defense firms' operations in Saudi Arabia and enhance cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.

Analysts have expressed skepticism about the agreement's specifics and its impact on the security relationship with Israel. Elizabeth Dent, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, stated, "I think we're still kind of waiting to see what all this actually means. The information that we've so far received is helpful, but again, not enough."

Dent emphasized the need for clarity regarding the strategic defense agreement, especially in light of a recent executive order that provided security guarantees to Qatar. In 2022, the Biden administration designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, allowing it to benefit from defense trade and security cooperation.

"This is not something that the Senate is going to ratify, so it appears to be an executive agreement that is slightly more formal than Qatar's executive order," Dent noted. The executive order on Qatar stated that any armed attack on its territory would be considered a threat to U.S. peace and security.

Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, suggested that Saudi Arabia might seek similar guarantees. He indicated that the Trump administration could require Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel as part of this arrangement.

During his meeting with Trump, the Saudi prince linked any progress toward joining the Abraham Accords to a two-state solution for Palestinians, a stance not supported by the current administration.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the F-35 sale, particularly how the version sold to Saudi Arabia will compare to the one already provided to Israel. U.S. law mandates that advanced weapons sales to Middle Eastern partners must ensure Israel maintains a qualitative military edge (QME).

Trump remarked, "As far as I’m concerned, I think they are both at a level where they should get top of the line," referring to both Saudi Arabia and Israel. Shosh Bedrosian, a spokeswoman for Israel's Prime Minister's Office, reiterated that Israel's qualitative edge in defense is a longstanding understanding.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., a critic of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, has raised concerns about whether the sale will uphold Israel’s QME. She called for the Trump administration to clarify how the sale serves the vital national interest of the United States.

Some analysts view the F-35 sale as a sign of the Trump administration's commitment to strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia. Dan Shapiro, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense and U.S. ambassador to Israel, stated that the deal is likely to meet the QME threshold, referencing a precedent set in 2020 with a similar sale that passed a QME review.

Mulroy emphasized that while maintaining a relationship with Saudi Arabia is crucial for both nations' security, human rights should not be overlooked in U.S. foreign policy. He stated, "Human rights has always been part of our foreign policy and always should be, but our presence and engagement is necessary."