Saudi Arabia Officially Purchases IDR 35.5 Trillion in Weapons from the United States

The United States Department of State has officially approved a massive arms sale to Saudi Arabia with an estimated value of US$1.96 billion. The move is intended to strengthen the air defence systems of the Gulf kingdom. The approval of this large-scale weapons sale was announced by the State Department on Wednesday, local time. This strategic policy comes as Saudi Arabia stands on the brink of a new war with Yemen’s Houthi group, which is backed by Iran. On Monday, the Houthis launched a missile attack targeting an airport in the southern Saudi city of Abha. The salvo of attacks was triggered by the Yemeni government’s strike on Sanaa airport to divert a flight carrying a Houthi delegation returning from the funeral of Iran’s supreme leader. Washington stated that the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region. Among the weaponry sought by Saudi Arabia are up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems. The State Department added that there will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of the proposed sale, with BAE Systems listed as the principal contractor for the procurement.