The US government has approved a planned $5 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, a major weapons deal that Washington says will strengthen the kingdom’s ability to respond to current and future regional threats. The package, announced by the US State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, includes bombs, guidance systems and other military equipment.
The proposed sale must still be approved by the US Congress before the delivery can proceed. The agreement comes as Saudi Arabia faces repeated missile and drone attacks linked to the escalating regional conflict, while also confronting continuing attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia.
According to the US State Department, the weapons package is intended to improve Saudi Arabia’s air-defence capabilities and enable the country to counter “current and future regional threats”. The department said the deal would also support US foreign-policy and national-security objectives by strengthening the security of an important non-NATO ally.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly been targeted by Iranian drones and missiles since the beginning of the war with Iran initiated by the United States. The kingdom has also faced regular attacks from Yemen by the Houthi militia, which is supported by Iran.
The attacks have resulted in numerous deaths, including among civilians. Saudi Arabia has for years fought the Houthi militia alongside Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The conflict has intensified again in the context of the war with Iran, adding further pressure on Saudi Arabia’s security and military capabilities.
The consequences have extended beyond security concerns, with attacks on Saudi Arabia also affecting the country’s oil exports. After the strategically important Strait of Hormuz was closed to international trade, Saudi Arabia redirected its oil exports through the Bab al-Mandab strait.
That alternative route has itself become a potential point of vulnerability. The Houthis have repeatedly threatened attacks in the Bab al-Mandab, raising further concerns over the security of a route used for Saudi oil exports.
The wider regional conflict began on 28 February, when the United States and Israel launched air strikes against Iran. The Islamic Republic has since responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel, several Gulf states and US facilities across the region.
Against this backdrop, Washington’s decision to approve the Saudi arms package comes as Riyadh seeks to strengthen its defences amid threats from multiple directions. The proposed weapons delivery would provide additional military equipment aimed specifically at improving the kingdom’s ability to defend itself against aerial threats.
The announcement also follows a recent decision by Saudi Arabia to establish a defence pact with Turkey and Pakistan. The agreement is intended to serve as a deterrent and provides that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three, in a framework similar to the collective-defence principle within NATO.
The proposed US arms sale therefore comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, with Saudi Arabia facing missile and drone threats while also reinforcing its broader security partnerships. Final approval by the US Congress remains necessary before the $5 billion package can be delivered.
