The US State Department has approved nearly $1 billion in the latest arms sales for Saudi Arabia affirmed during the kingdom’s crown prince’s in his American tour.
Congress was notified Thursday of the deal, which includes a $670 million sale of more than 6,600 TOW anti-tank missiles and a $300 million sale of spare vehicle parts for the Royal Saudi Land Forces Ordnance Corps.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign military sales, said, “This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by improving the security of a friendly country which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic growth in the Middle East.”
The United States and Saudi Arabia have been partners especially in ending the three-year civil war against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the two believe that the deal will facilitate the defeat of the rebels.
