Conflicts & War

US green-lights possible weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE

Washington, Aug 2 (EFE).- The US government approved on Tuesday the possible sales of Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles and equipment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to ‘improve the security of the US partners’ in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East.

The State Department gave the green light to these possible sales of weaponry as requested by the governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency reported in a statement.

As required, the agency delivered the notifications to Congress which, after reviewing the sale proposals, can disavow them if it sees fit.

The US wants to sell 300 Patriot missiles, along with other defense equipment and support, to Saudi Arabia for $3.05 billion.

According to the US government, this sale of missiles, manufactured by Raytheon Corporation, will serve “to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (Yemen) borders against persistent Houthi cross-border unmanned aerial system and ballistic missile attacks on civilian sites and critical infrastructure.”

The US claimed that these attacks endanger the “well-being” of Saudi, international and US citizens.

The State Department also authorized the possible sale of 96 THAAD missile rounds, two launch control stations and two tactical operations stations, to the government of the UAE.

The sale, valued at $2.245 million, will “improve the UAE’s ability to meet current and future ballistic missile threats in the region, and reduce dependence on US forces,” the defense agency said.

The main contractor for this operation will be Lockheed Martin Space Systems Corporation in California. EFE

pem/tw

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