The US State Department has granted preliminary approval for the $3.5 billion contract, and has approved the sale of sophisticated missiles and weapons to Saudi Arabia, as confirmed by the Pentagon, before President Donald Trump plans the region later this month.
This package includes 1,000 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAMs) from Saudi Arabia and 50 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections.
The proposed sale is currently being reviewed by the US Congress. Lawmakers can usually evaluate these transactions and sometimes prevent them from moving forward.
In March, Washington approved the sale of its precision guided weapons systems to Saudi Arabia, continuing a series of US military agreements during Trump’s administration.
Trump is scheduled to make his first overseas trip later this month, with Saudi Arabia following his visit to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar as the first stop.
In his first term, Trump celebrated the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, good for our work.
Trump has signed a massive $110 billion arms contract with Saudi Arabia during his overseas trip to Riyadh in May 2017, boasting of saving by creating “billions of dollars and millions of dollars in employment” in the US.
The United States ensures that its close ally, Israel, receives more advanced American arms than Arab countries, and gives it something labeled “qualitative military ties” (QME) than its neighbors.
Israel has now owned the F-35 for nine years and has built multiple squadrons.
MNA/