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The Defense Department notified Congress it wants to sell (WashPost) $60 billion in advanced aircraft and weapons to Saudi Arabia. The sale would be the largest arms deal to another country in U.S. history and would include helicopters, fighter jets, radar equipment, and satellite-guided bombs. Congress has thirty days to review the sale before further discussions begin between the Pentagon, weapons makers, and Saudi Arabia. The sale would boost U.S. efforts to support Arab allies against threats from Iran. It would also inject needed funds (AP) into U.S. defense companies as the Pentagon considers tightening its contracting budget. U.S. concerns about Iraq's stability and unrest in Yemen also play into the proposed Saudi deal. A small group of U.S. lawmakers said they will try to block the deal (WSJ), arguing it would undercut Israel and support a government with a poor human-rights record.
Analysis:
On al-Jazeera, Riz Khan examines the state of political and social reform in Saudi Arabia, including freedom of speech, women's rights, and press freedoms.
Defense News reports the proposed arms deal would keep alive struggling U.S. aircraft companies hit by cancellation of aircraft programs--including the F-22, the C-17, and the presidential helicopter--and delays of a new search-and-rescue helicopter and a new bomber.
In this expert roundup, four experts discuss the merits of the proposed arms deal.
Background:
Read this October 20 U.S. State Department briefing on the pending deal.
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