Key points
- The deal comes as part of a broader shift in US-Saudi relations.
- Arms sales to Saudi Arabia were restricted in 2021, but lifted in 2024 due to geopolitical changes.
- The arms package includes advanced weapons systems, such as transport aircraft, missiles, and radar.
- The deal highlights Saudi Arabia’s role in global energy stability and Gaza’s reconstruction.
ISLAMABAD: The United States is set to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package valued at over $100 billion, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The deal is reportedly being arranged ahead of US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates next month, as reported by Reuters on Thursday.
Leading defence contractors like Lockheed Martin, RTX Corp, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics are said to be involved in supplying advanced weapons systems, with several executives from these companies expected to join Trump’s delegation for the trip.
The sources mentioned by Reuters indicate that the contractor could see Riyadh receive various weapons, including C-130 transport aircraft, missiles, and radar systems. However, it seems unlikely that Saudi Arabia will be granted access to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet, as only select countries, such as NATO allies, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, can purchase F-35s from the US.
Trump’s predecessor, President Joe Biden, attempted to finalise a new defence pact with Saudi Arabia. This agreement also called for Riyadh to curb Chinese investment and halt arms purchases from Beijing, but Reuters was unable to confirm whether Trump’s proposed deal would impose similar restrictions.
Neither the White House nor Saudi officials immediately responded to the request for comment, though a US defence official told Reuters that “security cooperation remains an important element” of the US-Saudi relationship. None of the defence contractors named by Reuters responded to inquiries.
Historical context
While the US has long provided arms to Saudi Arabia, weapons sales significantly diminished in 2018.
However, the geopolitical landscape shifted in the following years. The Biden administration began to reconsider its stance on Saudi Arabia in 2022, following Russia’s war on Ukraine, which disrupted global oil supplies. The US saw Saudi Arabia as a vital partner in ensuring stability in global energy markets, particularly given the kingdom’s influential position within Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
As a result, the ban on offensive weapons sales was lifted in 2024, with Saudi Arabia now recognised as a key partner by the US in the post-war reconstruction of Gaza, as the region faces significant rebuilding efforts following years of conflict.
The US aims to strengthen its relationship with Saudi Arabia in the hope of leveraging this partnership to stabilise the Middle East and counter both regional and global challenges.
