US announces massive arms sale to Saudi Arabia

In its biggest arms deal ever, the United States announced yesterday it will sell up to $60 billion worth of warplanes, helicopters and other weapons to Saudi Arabia, partly to help it counter Iran.

The plan allows for the sale of 84 F-15 fighter jets, 70 Apache attack helicopters, 72 tactical Black Hawk helicopters and 36 light helicopters, assistant secretary for political-military affairs Andrew Shapiro said.

The sale, which also includes the upgrade of 70 used F-15s, is “not to exceed 60 billion” dollars, Mr Shapiro told reporters as President Barack Obama’s administration notified Congress of its plans to make the deal.

Congress has the authority to amend or delay the agreement, according to Mr Shapiro who added he also did not expect Israeli opposition to the sale.

The delivery of the weapons to oil-rich Saudi Arabia would be spread over 15 to 20 years.

“It will send a strong message to countries in the region that we are committed to support the security of our key partners and allies in the Arabian Gulf and broader Middle East,” Mr Shapiro said.

Though Mr Shapiro said the deal is “not solely about Iran,” he admitted it is partly intended to help Saudi Arabia counter the perceived threat from the non-Arab Islamic republic across the Gulf.

US defence officials said the deal had been in the works for months with the Saudis, who have grown increasingly anxious about Iran’s missile arsenal. A senior defence official told reporters last month that “if you look at the kingdom, the major threat that they face in the region emanates from Iran.”

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the arms package “gives them a whole host of defensive capabilities to defend the kingdom and deterrence capabilities.”

The defence package also includes thousands of laser-guided smart bombs, including JDAMS, as well as Hellfire and Sidewinder missiles.

Last month State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said major arms deals to countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel were in the US “national interest” as Washington seeks to keep the region stable and counter potential threats from Iran. Alexander Vershbow, the assistant secretary of defence for international security affairs, said the deal cemented the decades-old US alliance with Saudi Arabia.

“We welcome Saudi Arabia’s decision to continue to strategically align itself with the United States,” Mr Vershbow told reporters.

“If approved, this program will be implemented over 15 to 20 years, which means that our defense bond with the Saudis will only continue to grow deeper and stronger,” he added.

The two countries have enjoyed a strong strategic alliance – highlighted by Saudi Arabia serving as the staging area for the 1991 US-led war to evict Iraqi troops from Kuwait – but have suffered over Arab-Israeli diplomacy and the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.