Key Takeaways
- The US State Department approved a nearly $2 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia.
- The deal includes up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems and warheads.
- This move comes amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis.
The US State Department has approved a significant $1.96 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia, aimed at bolstering the kingdom's air defences. This approval was made public on Wednesday, as regional tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.
According to the State Department’s release, the proposed sale is intended to support US foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a major non-NATO ally that plays a crucial role in political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region. The weapons being sold include up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) and their warheads.
The principal contractor for this deal is BAE Systems based in Nashua, New Jersey. These APKWS are described by the US Navy as an “inexpensive way to destroy targets while limiting collateral damage in close combat.” The sale is expected to improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defence and enhancing interoperability with US forces and other regional and NATO allies.
This approval comes at a time when Saudi Arabia appears on the brink of renewed conflict with Yemen's Houthis. On Monday, the Houthis fired missiles at an airport in southern Saudi Arabia’s city of Abha, following an attack by the Yemeni government on Sanaa airport that diverted a flight returning from the funeral of Iran’s supreme leader with a Houthi delegation onboard.
The Houthis blamed Riyadh for this attack, adding to the already tense situation. This move also coincides with increased US military activity against Iran, including reimposing a naval blockade as both nations return to war.
In its statement, the State Department emphasized that there would be no adverse impact on US defence readiness due to this proposed sale. The approval underscores the ongoing strategic alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia in the face of regional challenges.
