The Biden administration has decided to conclude its prolonged suspension of offensive weapons shipments to Saudi Arabia by authorizing an initial shipment of air-to-ground munitions and indicating that it will evaluate additional future transfers on a “case-by-case” basis, according to senior administration officials.
The sale of specific types of offensive weapons had been halted in early 2021 to demonstrate the administration’s disapproval of the Saudi-led war against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, along with attacks on civilian targets. Following a United Nations-brokered truce in the spring of 2022, a senior official noted, “there has not been a single Saudi airstrike in Yemen, and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely ceased.”
“The Saudis have fulfilled their obligations, and we are ready to fulfill ours,” stated a senior Biden administration official.
Reuters was the first to report this decision, citing information from five sources. The administration informed Congress this week about its choice to lift the ban, according to a congressional aide. One source suggested that sales could resume as early as next week, while another informed individual indicated that the U.S. government was already progressing with notifications regarding a sale on Friday afternoon.
U.S. law mandates that significant international arms deals require review by Congress members before finalization. In recent years, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have challenged the supply of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing the Yemen campaign’s impact on civilians and various human rights concerns. Nonetheless, this opposition has lessened due to the turmoil in the Middle East following Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7 and changes in the Yemen campaign’s dynamics. Since the agreement of a U.N.-led truce in March 2022, there have been no Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely ceased, according to an administration official.
“We have also recognized the positive steps the Saudi Ministry of Defense has taken over the past three years to significantly enhance its processes for mitigating civilian harm, partly due to the efforts of American trainers and advisors,” said a State Department official.
The reasons behind this decision
The war in Yemen is viewed as one of several proxy conflicts between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis displaced a Saudi-backed government from Sanaa in late 2014 and have been engaged in war with a Saudi-led military coalition since 2015, a conflict that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and left 80% of Yemen’s population reliant on humanitarian aid. Biden adopted a more stringent stance on arms sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021, citing the kingdom’s offensive against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, which has caused numerous civilian casualties.
Since then, relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States have strengthened, as Washington has collaborated more closely with Riyadh in response to the Hamas attack on October 7 to devise a strategy for post-war Gaza.
The Biden administration is also negotiating a defense pact and a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Riyadh as part of a broader effort to encourage Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, although that objective remains elusive. Credits: The World Order.
This decision comes amid rising tensions in the region since late last month, when Iran and the influential Iran-backed Hezbollah group pledged retaliation against Israel following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The Houthis have emerged as a strong ally of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in its struggles against Israel. Earlier this year, they targeted commercial vessels they claimed were connected to Israel or were headed to Israeli ports.
You may be interested in: US strengthens Israel’s military capacity with $20 billion arms sale
Source: The Washington Post / Reuters
The Biden Administration Lifts Suspension on Offensive Weapons Shipments to Saudi Arabia
The Biden administration has decided to end its years-long suspension of offensive weapons shipments to Saudi Arabia, authorizing a first shipment of air-to-ground munitions and saying it will consider additional future transfers on a “case-by-case” basis, according to senior administration officials.
The sale of certain types of offensive weapons had been frozen in early 2021 as a way to express the administration’s disapproval of the Saudi war against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and attacks on civilian targets there. Since a United Nations-brokered truce was reached in the spring of 2022, “there has not been a single Saudi airstrike in Yemen, and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely stopped,” a senior official explained.
“The Saudis have kept their end of the bargain, and we are prepared to keep ours,” said a senior Biden administration official.
Reuters was the first to report the decision, based on information from five sources. The administration notified Congress this week of its decision to lift the ban, according to a congressional aide. One source said sales could resume next week, while another person familiar with the matter reported that the U.S. government was already moving forward with notifications about a sale on Friday afternoon.
Under U.S. law, major international arms deals must be reviewed by members of Congress before becoming final. In recent years, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have questioned the supply of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing the impact of the Yemen campaign on civilians and various human rights concerns. However, that opposition has diminished due to turmoil in the Middle East following Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and changes in the conduct of the Yemen campaign. Since the Saudis and Houthis agreed to a U.N.-led truce in March 2022, there have been no Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely stopped, according to an administration official.
“We have also noted the positive steps the Saudi Ministry of Defense has taken over the past three years to substantially improve its civilian harm mitigation processes, thanks in part to the work of American trainers and advisors.” a State Department official said.
The Reasons Behind This Decision
The war in Yemen is seen as one of several proxy fights between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis ousted a Saudi-backed government from Sanaa in late 2014 and have been at war with a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015, a conflict that has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and left 80% of Yemen’s population dependent on humanitarian aid. Biden took a tougher stance on arms sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021, citing the kingdom’s campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen that has led to numerous civilian casualties.
Since then, ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States have grown closer, as Washington has worked more closely with Riyadh following the Hamas attack on October 7 to devise a plan for post-war Gaza.
The Biden administration has also been negotiating a defense pact and a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Riyadh as part of a broad deal seeking to have Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel, though that goal remains elusive.
The move comes amid heightened tensions in the region since late last month, when Iran and the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group vowed retaliation against Israel following the assassination in Tehran of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. The Houthis have emerged as a strong ally of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in its conflict with Israel. Earlier this year, they attacked commercial ships they said were linked to Israel or headed for Israeli ports.
Implications of the Arms Deal
The decision to resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia raises various implications on international relations and regional security:
- U.S.-Saudi Relations: The lifting of the ban reflects a strengthening relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, aiming to address mutual threats, including Iran’s influence in the region.
- Human Rights Concerns: Critics fear that renewed arms sales may exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, risking further civilian casualties despite claims of improved military conduct from Saudi Arabia.
- Regional Stability: The deal could potentially alter the balance of power in the Middle East, prompting reactions from Iran and its allies.
Case Studies: Historical Arms Sales and Their Impact
| Year | Country | Type of Arms | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Saudi Arabia | Airstrikes | Civilian casualties and humanitarian crisis escalated |
| 2021 | Saudi Arabia | Offensive Weapons Ban | Suspension led to decreased military engagement |
| 2022 | Yemen (Houthi forces) | Missiles | Increased conflict and launched retaliatory strikes |
Benefits of the Decision for the U.S. and Saudi Arabia
Lifting the suspension on offensive weapons shipments holds several potential benefits:
- Enhanced Defense Capabilities: Saudi Arabia could strengthen its defense posture against regional threats, particularly Iran and its proxies.
- Stabilizing Interests: The U.S. may better position itself in the Middle East by reinforcing alliances and ensuring a cooperative Saudi government.
- Geopolitical Strategy: The arms sales could serve as leverage in broader negotiations surrounding Israeli-Saudi relations and counterterrorism efforts.
You may be interested in: US strengthens Israel’s military capacity with $20 billion arms sale
Source: The Washington Post / Reuters
