The US State Department approved a proposed $3 billion sale of defensive armaments and military equipment to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, equipping the Middle Eastern kingdom to better fend off hostile groups backed by Iran. The sale, accompanied by another $2.2 billion weapons deal with the United Arab Emirates, comes after President Joe Biden met with various Middle Eastern dignitaries last month, reversing a previous pledge to cut off the Saudis and the UAE because of their own hostile activities in Yemen.
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“The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by replenishing its dwindling stock of PATRIOT GEM-T missiles,” the State Department said in its notice informing Congress of the sale. “These missiles are used to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s borders against persistent Houthi cross-border unmanned aerial system and ballistic missile attacks on civilian sites and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.”
The sale to the UAE will “support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important regional partner. The UAE is a vital U.S. partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”
While the equipment sale is intended only for defensive use, lawmakers are likely to question the terms of the agreement given past human rights abuses and territorial aggression by the two countries.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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