Biden administration approves potential billions of dollars in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE

The notification of approval comes just weeks after President Joe Biden met with world leaders in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in an attempt to improve relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The approval came on the same day that the United Nations announced a two-month extension to the armistice in Yemen, a conflict that has killed thousands of civilians.

The US State Department has approved a potential sale of the Patriot MIM-104E Guided Enhanced Missile Tactical Ballistic Missile (GEM-T) and related equipment to Saudi Arabia for an estimated $3.05 billion, according to a US State Department news release.

The State Department said of the sale, “This proposed sale will serve U.S. foreign policy objectives and national security objectives by improving the security of our partner nations, which are the engine of political stability and economic development in the Gulf region. will support the goals of

“The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom’s ability to meet current and future threats by replenishing its dwindling inventory of PATRIOT GEM-T missiles,” it said. “These missiles are being used to protect the borders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from persistent Houthi cross-border unmanned aerial systems and ballistic missile attacks on Saudi civilian installations and critical infrastructure.”

“These attacks threaten the well-being of Saudi, international and US citizens (about 70,000) living in the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have no problem absorbing these missiles into its military,” it added. rice field.

Separately, the State Department has approved a potential sale to the UAE of “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system missiles, THAAD fire control and communications stations, and related equipment for an estimated $2.245 billion.”

“This proposed sale supports U.S. foreign policy and national security by helping improve the security of our key regional partners.The UAE is critical to political stability and economic development in the Middle East. We are a strong U.S. partner,” the State Department said. “The proposed sale will improve the UAE’s ability to deal with current and future ballistic missile threats in the region and reduce its reliance on US forces.”

Shortly after taking office, Biden announced that he would end U.S. support for the Saudi offensive operation in Yemen “including the sale of related arms.” However, the regime continues to sell weapons to the kingdom on the grounds that they are for defensive purposes.

Source: www.cnn.com

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