The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency warned Congress on Tuesday about plans for a $ 290 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, including 3,000 precision-guided munitions.
Why it matters: The State Department’s approval of the Trump administration’s possible deal in the last weeks comes despite President-elect Joe Biden who pledged during his election campaign to end arms sales to the Saudis.
Details: Saudi Arabia has requested GBU-39 SDB I ammunition, spare parts, engineering from the US government and contractors, weapons support, support equipment and other items and services, the Pentagon said in a statement. Boeing would be the prime contractor.
- “The proposed sale will enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to face current and future threats by increasing its stocks of long-range, precision air-to-ground ammunition,” the statement said.
- “The size and accuracy of the SDB I provides effective ammunition with less collateral damage. The potential sale will further enhance interoperability between the United States and Saudi Arabia.”
Of interest: The sale of the Trump administration to Saudi Arabia in 2019 caused discord among lawmakers.
- The State Department Inspector General found out last August that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was acting legally when he bypassed Congress to approve $ 8 billion in arms sales, but failed to “fully assess the risks and mitigate measures. to reduce civilian casualties “that resulted from the deal. .
- The Biden transition team declined to comment on the Pentagon’s latest announcement, saying it “would not be appropriate for us to do that during the transition period.”