US renews its commitment to defend Saudi Arabia
After the US State Department authorized weaponry shipments to Saudi Arabia, Washington emphasized the need of assisting Saudi Arabia in defending its territory against the threats it is facing, as well as the current US administration’s commitment to this policy.
The approval of the missile deal with Saudi Arabia comes after “we witnessed an increase in cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia,” according to US State Department spokesman Ned Price because these missiles “played a key role in intercepting the unstoppable drone attacks” against Saudi Arabia and its forces.
The State Department has informed Congress of a new $650 million arms agreement with Saudi Arabia, which includes the transfer of 280 sophisticated medium-range air-to-air missiles.
The US State Department confirmed that this new deal will use air defense capabilities and will not be used for offensive purposes, stating that the goal is to replenish Saudi Arabia’s existing stockpile and “in line with President Biden’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s regional defense,” according to a spokesperson.
The new agreement occurred less than two months after National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia. The conversation focused on a variety of regional concerns, most notably the Yemeni crisis, as well as the sources of regional instability, including Iran’s meddling.
The official added that “more than 70,000 US residents reside in the Kingdom,” and that “the AIM-120C missile is a sophisticated medium-range air-to-air missile that is not employed in targeting ground targets,” and that “the US government is responsible for their protection.”
In turn, Richard Haass, the chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations (an American think tank), believes that it is in the US administration’s best interests to handle Saudi-US relations in a way that is based on mutual interests.
Hass noted in an essay on the center’s website that diplomatic cooperation with Saudi Arabia on unresolved regional concerns would help to resolve several difficulties, including the Yemen war and the potential of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
