Human rights fears over Australia’s role in F-35 parts after Trump’s decision to sell fighter jets to Saudi Arabia

Experts warn US deal on ‘lethal’ aircraft presents issues for Australia that ‘we’ve tried desperately to ignore with the Israelis’

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Donald Trump’s unilateral decision to sell F-35 joint strike fighter jets to Saudi Arabia will rely on critical Australian components, prompting experts to warn Australia could become complicit in human rights abuses.

The US president announced the deal during a meeting with the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, this week, despite consistent concerns about the Saudi regime’s human rights record – including bombing raids on civilian targets – and fears it could share the technology with China.