In the backdrop of increasing conflict in the Middle East, including its face-off with Iran, the US administration announced the approval of massive new arms deals with Israel and Saudi Arabia on Friday.
The arms sales to Israel will total a mammoth USD 6.67 billion, and that to Saudi Arabia will be worth 9 billion, said the State Department, after it notified Congress of its approval of sales.
The new arms deals were announced as President Donald Trump pushes ahead with his Gaza peace plan via the constitution of the ‘Board of Peace’, to end the Israel-Hamas conflict and reconstruct the Palestinian territory after more than two years of war left it devastated and tens of thousands dead.
The Saudi sale is for 730 Patriot missiles and related equipment, while the sales to Israel are split into four separate packages, including one for 30 Apache attack helicopters and related equipment and weapons and another for 3,250 light tactical vehicles, said the State Department.
Despite claiming that the new sales would not affect the military balance in the region, the State Department insisted in a statement that all of them would “enhance Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats by improving its ability to defend Israel’s borders, vital infrastructure, and population centers.”
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the statement said.
The Saudi arms deal “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major non-NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region,” the department added.
“This enhanced capability will protect land forces of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and local allies and will significantly improve Saudi Arabia’s contribution” to the integrated air and missile defense system in the region, it said.
The Apache helicopters to be sold to Israel, said the Department, will be equipped with rocket launchers and advanced targeting gear, coming to USD 3.8 billion.
The next largest portion of this deal is the light tactical vehicles, which will be used to move personnel and logistics “to extend lines of communication” for the Israel Defense Forces and will cost USD 1.98 billion, it said.
Israel will spend an additional USD 740 million on power packs for armored personnel carriers it has had in service since 2008, the department said. The remaining USD 150 million will be spent on a small but unreported number of light utility helicopters to complement similar equipment it already has, it said.
