WASHINGTON/RIYADH, July 11 (Reuters) – The Biden administration is discussing a possible lifting of a ban on U.S. sales of assault weapons to Saudi Arabia, but the final decision is expected to hinge on Riyadh’s progress in ending the war in neighboring countries. Yemen, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Senior Saudi officials pressured their US counterparts to abandon a policy of selling only defensive weapons to their Gulf partner in several meetings in recent months in Riyadh and Washington, three sources said ahead of President Joe Biden’s visit to the kingdom this week.
Internal US discussions are informal and at an early stage, and a decision is not imminent, two of the sources said, with one US official telling Reuters there were no discussions with the Saudis about assault weapons “at this time”.
YEMEN CONFLICT
However, the sources emphasized that Biden’s 13-16 No announcement is expected for the July trip, which will include stops in Israel and the West Bank. See the article : Hajj tech is changing pilgrimage.
Any decision, they say, will depend largely on whether Riyadh has done enough to find a political solution to the conflict in Yemen.
The biggest-ticket items the Saudis would likely seek are precision-guided munitions (PGMs), such as those approved under former President Donald Trump, amid objections from members of Congress.
But two sources said the Biden administration is treading carefully when discussing what systems might be offered. Amnesty International said a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on a detention center in Yemen in January used US-made precision-guided bombs, killing scores of people.
If Washington relaxes the ban, it may be easier to push through the sale of less lethal equipment such as armored personnel carriers or replenish stocks of less sophisticated ground-to-ground and air-to-ground weapons.
Even with the restrictions in place, the U.S. began increasing its military support for Saudi Arabia earlier this year following Houthi missile attacks on the kingdom. read more
Washington approved the sale of missiles and ballistic defense systems to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said in November, and the United States sent Patriot missiles again this year — all for defensive purposes, according to U.S. officials.
The Biden administration has also maintained support for the Saudis to acquire the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, first approved in 2017, to counter ballistic missiles.
While lawmakers have mostly accepted such sales, Biden could fall on Capitol Hill if he decides to sell assault weapons to Riyadh again.
Some have questioned Biden’s decision to visit Saudi Arabia as a legitimization of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia who the US intelligence community believes was behind Khashoggi’s murder.
Among the likely opponents is Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, a staunch critic of Saudi Arabia’s campaign in Yemen who praised Biden when he froze offensive arms sales.
The aide said Murphy did not believe now was the time to resume such deliveries.
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Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Mike Stone in Washington and Aziz El Yaakoubi in Riyadh; Editing by Mary Milliken and Howard Goller
Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read also : The case for a new strategic pact between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Are there Houthis in Saudi Arabia?
On August 31, 2021, Houthi forces launched a drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport. On the same subject : Stability in times of upheaval – a challenge the Israeli high-tech industry may face. According to the Saudi Arabian authorities, 8 civilians were wounded and one civilian aircraft was damaged in the attack.
What country are the Houthi rebels in? The Houthi Rebellion in Yemen, also known as the Houthi Rebellion, the Sa’dah War, or the Sa’dah Conflict, was a military insurgency pitting the Zaidi Shia Houthis (although the movement also includes Sunnis) against the Yemeni military, which began in the north. in Yemen and has since escalated into a full-scale civil war.
Who is the leader of the Houthis?
Abdul-Malik Badruldeen al-Houthi (Arabic: عبد الملك بدر الدين الØÙˆ)Ø« is a Yemeni politician and religious leader , who is the leader of the Zaidi revolutionary movement; Houthi Movement (Ansar Allah).
Is Saudi Arabia fighting Yemen?
On March 29, 2022, the Saudi-led coalition announced that it would end all hostilities in Yemen as of 6 a.m. the following day to facilitate political talks and peacekeeping efforts.
Why do Houthis attack Saudi Arabia?
The Houthi unprovoked attacks on Saudi Aramco oil storage facilities in Jeddah, as well as attacks on civilian facilities in Jizan, Najran and Dhahran, are acts of terrorism designed to prolong the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Who makes Russia’s weapons?
Russian Military Spending The Russian arms industry consists of about 1,300 companies that employ about two million people. The largest of these companies is Rostec, founded in 2007 by President Vladimir Putin.
Which countries have Russian weapons?
Does Russia make it own weapons?
Russia is the world’s second largest exporter of conventional weapons after the United States. In 2012, Rosoboronexport received 1,877 requests from foreign clients, and after reviewing the requests, 1,309 contracts were concluded. This is 2.5 times more than in 2011.
What company makes Russian weapons?
Rostec is a huge defense conglomerate that dominates Russia’s military industrial complex. It oversees hundreds of companies and manufactures a variety of weapons and military hardware.
How was Yemen formed?
The current Republic of Yemen was formed in May 1990 when the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) merged with the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen).
How old is the history of Yemen? Old Yemen. Yemen’s history stretches back more than 3,000 years, and its unique culture is still evident today in the architecture of its cities and villages. From around 1000 BC, this region of the southern Arabian Peninsula was ruled by three successive civilizations – the Minean, Sabaean and Himyarite.
What was the name of Yemen before?
1 The Happy Land: In ancient times, Yemen was known as Arabia Felix, Latin for “fortunate” or “fortunate.” Today, Yemen is neither happy nor fortunate, but it got its name because its high mountains caught the rain, making it more fertile than most of the Arabian Peninsula.
When was Yemen formed?
Who are Saudi Arabia’s enemies?
Saudi Arabia and Iran – two powerful neighbors – are locked in a fierce battle for regional dominance. The decades-long enmity between them is exacerbated by religious differences.
Is Saudi Arabia an ally or an enemy? Although a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Saudi Arabia was once described as the leader of the “pro-Western camp” of Arab states, which is aligned with the United States and consists of Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf Arab states. Saudi Arabia and the US are close strategic allies and partners.
Are Saudi Arabia and US enemies?
Saudi Arabia and the US are strategic allies, and since President Obama took office in 2009, the US has sold $110 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia.
Which country is the enemy of Saudi Arabia?
The biggest rivalry in the Arab-Iranian conflict is between Saudi Arabia and Iran, who have been waging a serious proxy war against each other since the late 1970s.
