According to a White House statement, the deal with Saudi Arabia was “the largest defence sales agreement in history.”
The US and Saudi Arabia have concluded contracts for the Gulf monarchy to receive nearly $142 billion in new weapons, military equipment and training support, the White House announced on May 13.
The deal is part of a more $600 billion deal to help Saudi Arabia expand its economic ties with the United States. The White House announced the contract when President Donald Trump began his four-day tour in the Middle East.
According to the White House, the military portion of the agreement covers “state-of-the-art war equipment and services from more than a dozen US defense companies.”
The list of new weapon transfers includes systems that help aviation and space systems, aviation and missile defense, maritime and coastal security, secure Saudi Arabia’s land borders, modernize Saudi military land forces, and upgrade Saudi military communications systems.
The Epoch Times reached out to the White House and the Pentagon for additional details on specific weapons and military systems the US offers. Neither responded due to publication time.
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“This package also includes extensive training and support to build the capabilities of the Saudi military, including strengthening the service academy in Saudi Arabia and military health services,” the White House said.
Saudi Arabia maintains largely positive diplomatic and military ties with the United States, and has been a leading buyer of US-made military systems for many years.
During his first administration, Trump developed deep ties with Saudi Arabia through a massive, unfulfilled arms deal. In 2017, he oversaw the signing of a total agreement between Saudi officials and American defense contractors. These transactions are intended to award advanced tanks, warships, aviation and missile defense systems, and cybersecurity technologies. Similarly, in 2020, Trump approved the sale of senior F-35 fighter jets, Grim Reaper drones and air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia.
But in both circumstances, Congress has passed a resolution calling for the sale of arms and to limit the flow of weapons to Saudi Arabia following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The CIA concluded that his assassination was ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who signed a new economic agreement with Trump on Tuesday.
Despite Congress’ efforts to curb the flow of arms to Saudi Arabia, both the Trump and Biden administrations have continued to successfully approve additional sales to Riyadh, primarily to encourage Saudi wars in Yemen, which the Trump administration designated as a terrorist organization.
“This proposed sales support foreign policy goals and the US national security goals by improving the security of partners that contribute to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.”
