Saudi Arabia Backs Out of Pakistani JF-17 Deal Under U.S. Pressure, Military Chief Asim Munir Faces Setback

Islamabad/Riyadh/Washington: Pakistan’s hopes of exporting JF-17 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia have suffered a major setback. Under pressure from the United States, the Saudi government has canceled its deal to purchase JF-17 jets from Pakistan. Riyadh has assured Washington that it will not proceed with the deal, which was previously intended to be financed through Pakistani loans.

The JF-17, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, has been heavily promoted globally by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir for its combat capabilities. Islamabad had anticipated Saudi Arabia as a major buyer following Azerbaijan, with plans to potentially re-export the jets to Sudan.

U.S. Pushback on Chinese Fighter Jets

According to defense news portal Militarnyi, the United States has expressed strong opposition to Saudi Arabia acquiring Turkish KAAN fighter jets or Chinese-backed JF-17s. Consequently, Saudi Arabia has had to reconsider its purchase of Chinese-origin fighters. Riyadh has not yet provided any commitment regarding Turkish jets. The U.S. is keen for Saudi Arabia to procure F-35 fighter jets, although Israel has raised objections to this sale.

Historically, Gulf nations have been major clients of U.S. weaponry, and the entry of Chinese fighter jets into the region was seen as a strategic concern for Washington, prompting diplomatic intervention.

Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Ties Continue

Despite this setback, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are reportedly preparing a strategic economic agreement to further strengthen bilateral relations, building on the historic defense pact signed in September 2025, which included a mutual defense clause declaring that an attack on one country would be considered an attack on the other.

Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Maliki has stated that the upcoming economic agreement will be announced soon, with both countries working to expand trade ties. Meanwhile, tensions are reportedly simmering between the UAE and Pakistan, as the UAE has refused a two-year loan repayment extension, with disagreements spanning issues from Yemen to Sudan.