Washington: United States is ready to offer Saudi Arabia a package of weapons that is worth more than $ 100 billion, six sources with direct knowledge of the topic told Reuterssaying that the proposal was aligning for the announcement during the visit of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to the kingdom.
The package offered is produced after the administration of former President Joe Biden tried to finish a defense pact with Riad as part of a broad treatment that imagined Saudi Arabia that normalized ties with Israel.
Biden’s proposal offered access to the most advanced American weapons in exchange for stopping Chinese weapons purchases and restricting Beijing’s investment in the country. Reuters I could not establish whether the Trump administration proposal includes similar requirements.
The Communications Office of the Government of the White House and the Saudi government did not immediately respond to comments requests.
An American defense official said: “Our defense relationship with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is stronger than ever under the leadership of President Trump. Maintaining our security cooperation remains an important component of this association and we will continue working with Saudi Arabia to address their defense needs.”
The United States has supplied weapons to Saudi Arabia for a long time. In 2017, Trump proposed approximately $ 110 billion of sales to the kingdom. As of 2018, only $ 14.5 billion of sales began and Congress began to question the agreements in the light of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In 2021, Bajo Biden, Congress imposed a prohibition of sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia for the murder of Khashoggi and press the kingdom to reduce his Yemen War, which had inflicted strong civil casualties.
According to the United States Law, the main international weapons agreements must be reviewed by members of Congress before they are completed.
A possible agreement for Lockheed F-35 aircraft is expected to be interested in the kingdom for years, said three of the sources, while minimizing the possibilities of signing an F-35 agreement during the trip.
Posted in Dawn, April 26, 2025
