A major defence partnership signed by the US and Saudi Arabia is expected to fast-track arms sales to the kingdom, of which the F-35 warplane is just one component, current and former US officials told Middle East Eye on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“The conversation has changed from ‘we will see’ to ‘yes, but how and when’,” one person familiar with the deal said. The White House announced on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a new Strategic Defence Agreement (SDA).

The details are being hammered out by officials in the US government. A former senior US official familiar with the ongoing process confirmed to MEE that the agreement will put Saudi Arabia far ahead of other Gulf states and US partners in terms of wait times and negotiations for sophisticated US weapons.

“The Saudis have received Trump’s go-ahead to get the best in defence technology,” the former official said.