US to lift ban on selling offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia ‘within weeks’

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The United States is expected to lift a ban on the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks. This decision comes after a period of restrictions that affected Saudi Arabia’s access to certain types of weaponry. Let’s delve into the details:

  • Background: In 2021, shortly after taking office, President Joe Biden adopted a tougher stance regarding Saudi Arabia. This was in response to Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, which resulted in heavy civilian casualties. Additionally, concerns were raised about Riyadh’s human rights record, particularly the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist and political opponent.
  • Previous Restrictions: The restrictions imposed by the US froze the sale of certain offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, which had been a significant buyer of American-made arms for decades.
  • Recent Developments: Negotiators have been working on a bilateral accord that would provide formal US guarantees to defend Saudi Arabia. In return, Saudi Arabia would gain access to more advanced US weaponry. The discussions have included the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to the Saudis, a long-desired acquisition for the kingdom.
  • Israel’s Concerns: Any deal must take into account a longstanding agreement with Israel. According to this agreement, US weapons sold in the region must not impair Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” In other words, the weapons provided to Israel must be superior in capability to those sold to its neighboring countries.
  • Broader Normalization: While lifting the ban on offensive weapons sales is not directly linked to other talks, the US and Saudi Arabia are also close to concluding agreements on nuclear energy, security, and defense cooperation as part of a wider normalization deal involving Riyadh and Israel.
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It’s important to note that the White House and Saudi Arabia’s government communication office have not yet responded to requests for comment on this matter. As the situation unfolds, we’ll keep an eye on further developments.