Saudi Arabia will buy $2 billion worth of arms from the United States. Against the backdrop of a serious deterioration in the war situation in the Middle East, the US State Department has approved an estimated $1.96 billion arms sale to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s air-defence system. The US decision comes at a time when there are fears of a renewed war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, while military tensions between Iran and the United States are also at a peak.
The news was reported by the news agency AFP. A US State Department notice said the proposed arms sale would ensure the security of Saudi Arabia — a major driver of political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region and a major non-NATO ally.
The notice said the sale would also serve the United States’ foreign-policy and national-security objectives. Under the military package, Saudi Arabia is essentially set to acquire up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems and related munitions, including 10,000 air-to-air and 10,000 air-to-ground guided-system missiles. According to the US Navy, the technology is capable of destroying targets precisely at very low cost while limiting collateral damage.
The world-renowned defence-equipment manufacturer BAE Systems will act as the prime contractor for the arms deal. The US administration has made clear that the sale will have no negative impact on the United States’ own military readiness.
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