Joe Biden's government team is considering canceling arms sales agreements with Saudi Arabia that affect human rights issues, while seeking to limit the country to purchasing defensive-only weapons, the agency says. Reuters.
According to four government sources, after halting half a billion dollars in arms deals with Saudi Arabia over concerns over deaths in Yemen, officials are reassessing equipment and training included in recent sales to determine what can be considered defensive. or offensive.
“Our focus is on ending the conflict in Yemen, while ensuring Saudi Arabia has everything it needs to defend its territory and its people” said a US State Department spokesperson, adding that President Biden has pledged to end US military for the military campaign against the Houthis.
two weeks ago one Houthis attack ended up damaging an Airbus A320 civilian at an airport in southern Saudi Arabia.
While the Saudis are strong US allies against Iran, the country raises serious human rights concerns. That's why Joe Biden's new government is reviewing relations between countries.
“They are trying to figure out where you draw the line between offensive and defensive weapons”, said a congressional aide familiar with the matter, describing the process.
Sales of products deemed defensive, such as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), Lockheed Martin ballistic missile defense systems or Lockheed and Raytheon Patriot missile defense systems, would still be permitted under the new policy.
However, the acquisition of GBU-39 SDB bombs and other war artifacts would be vetoed. Such sales were approved in the istration of Donald Trump, even under strong protest from Congress.
AFFECTED EMIRATES
The revision also affects $23 billion in business with the United Arab Emirates, another country that has been an important US partner.
On the last day of the Trump istration, the United Arab Emirates signed agreements to acquire up to 50 F-35 Lightning II fighters, 18 drones and other military equipment.
This sale, which the Trump istration has justified as allowing the UAE to hold the “threats” Iranian, is also among those being analyzed by the Biden istration.
