The United States is close to completing a series of arms deals for Saudi
Arabia totaling more than $100 billion, a senior White House official said on
Friday, a week
ahead of President Donald Trump's planned visit to Riyadh.
The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the
arms package could end up surpassing more than $300 billion over a decade to
help Saudi Arabia boost its defensive capabilities while still maintaining U.S.
ally Israel's qualitative military edge over its neighbors.
"We are in the final stages of a series of deals," the official
said. The package is being developed to coincide with Trump's visit to Saudi
Arabia. Trump leaves for the kingdom on May 19, the first stop on his maiden
international trip.
Reuters reported last week that Washington was pushing through contracts
for tens of billions of dollars in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, some new, others
already in the pipeline, ahead of Trump's visit.
The United States has been the main supplier for most Saudi military
needs, from F-15 fighter jets to command and control systems worth tens of
billions of dollars in recent years. Trump has vowed to stimulate the U.S.
economy by boosting manufacturing jobs.
The package includes American arms and maintenance, ships, air missile
defense and maritime security, the official said. "We'll see a very
substantial commitment ... In many ways it is intended to build capabilities
for the threats they face."
The official added: "It's good for the American economy but it will
also be good in terms of building a capability that is appropriate for the
challenges of the region. Israel would still maintain an edge."
While in Riyadh, the official said Trump would attend three major events:
A series of meeting with Saudi officials, a separate session with leaders of
the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and a lunch with Arab and Muslim
leaders, 56 of whom have been invited, to discuss combating extremism and
cracking down on illicit financing.
Foxbusiness reported that Trump will discuss how to counter the threat from Islamic State
militants, the war in Yemen and threats of ballistic missiles and maritime
shipping in the Red Sea, the official said.
U.S. Navy commanders have accused Iran of jeopardizing international
navigation by "harassing" warships passing through the Strait of
Hormuz. Gulf Arab states are optimistic about Trump whom they see as a hawkish
leader opposed to their adversary Iran.
A major part of the agenda with Gulf leaders will be the Syrian civil war
amid calls for "de-escalation zones" in Syria to provide a safe haven
for Syrian refugees.
Besides Saudi Arabia, Trump's first foreign trip will also include visits
to Israel, the Vatican, Brussels for a NATO summit and Sicily for a Group of
Seven summit.
Foxbusiness*
0 Comments