The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Tuesday alerted Congress to plans for a $ 290 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia that included 3,000 precision-guided ammunition.
Why it’s important: The State Department’s approval of the possible deal in the last few weeks of the Trump administration comes despite President-elect Joe Biden promising during his election campaign to end arms sales to the Saudis.
Details: Saudi Arabia has requested the purchase of GBU-39 SDB I ammunition, spare parts, U.S. government and contractor engineering, weapons support, support equipment and other items and services, the Pentagon reported in a statement. Boeing would be the main contractor.
- “The proposed sale will enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to deal with current and future threats by increasing stocks of long-range air-to-ground precision ammunition,” the statement said.
- “The size and accuracy of SDB I allows for effective ammunition with less collateral damage. Potential sales will further strengthen interoperability between the United States and Saudi Arabia.”
Note: The Trump administration’s 2019 sale to Saudi Arabia drew bipartisan anger among lawmakers.
- The State Department inspector general found last August that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acted legally when he ignored Congress to approve the $ 8 billion arms sale, but no it “fully assessed the risks and implemented mitigation measures to reduce civilian casualties” that resulted from the agreement. .
- Biden’s transition team declined to comment on the Pentagon’s latest announcement, saying “it would not be appropriate for us to do so during the transition period.”