The Biden administration approved a sale of Patriot missiles and support equipment to Saudi Arabia Tuesday, overriding prior campaign pledges to end arms transfers to the “pariah” country over human rights issues.
President Joe Biden notified Congress of the $3 billion sale the day after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen vowed to extend a UN-brokered ceasefire with the Houthi rebel group for two months, CNN reported. Saudi Arabia has been accused of striking civilian targets and contributing to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, leading Biden in 2019 to denounce the country’s human rights practices and vow to suspend arms transfers that support offensive Saudi campaigns.
Biden previously promised to make Saudi Arabia “pay the price” for killing journalist Jamal Kashoggi and “make them the pariah that they are.”
The announcement also came just before Saudi Arabia committed to a relatively small increase in oil production at the OPEC+ meeting Wednesday, Reuters reported. Biden traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier in July in a reported attempt to persuade Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich countries to increase output as the administration deals with soaring energy prices and plummeting domestic approval ratings.
A State Department spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation the purpose of the arms sales was to “strengthen” Gulf countries’ defensive capabilities “alongside engagement on human rights and civilian harm mitigation.” The spokesperson did not refer to any specific situations.
.@StateDeptSpox: We are and remain deeply concerned by the frequency of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Attacks like these are not the actions of a group that is serious about peace. pic.twitter.com/ON2Ok0JIZt
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 8, 2021
The State Department said the Patriot missiles would be used to protect Saudi Arabia’s southern border against aerial attacks from the Houthis, CNN reported.
“The United States is committed to advancing the security of our Gulf partners against serious external threats, and to supporting the defense of our partners’ territories, their citizens, and the thousands of U.S. citizens residing in the region,” the State Department spokesperson told the DCNF.
Iran has enough enriched uranium to produce a nuclear weapon, and its support for terrorist groups, including the Houthis, presents a security concern for the region. (RELATED: Iran Ramps Up Nuclear Activity After US Squeezes Oil Industry)
Biden announced the creation of a regional defense network that allows participating countries to share information and install a web of missile defense systems to intercept possible Iranian attacks, during his July trip. While Biden hoped his July trip would bring the region, particularly Saudi Arabia, closer to Israel to balance against the Iranian threat, local states held back from declaring a formal alliance at a meeting of nine Arab leaders and Biden on July 16.
The Biden administration authorized one other arms sale to Saudi Arabia in November 2021 for $650 million, which the administration claimed would serve defensive purposes, CNN reported.
The State Department also approved a $2.2 billion sale of THAAD missiles to the United Arab Emirates Tuesday, according to CNN.
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