US approves nearly $2bn in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia
The US State Department has approved a $1.96 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia to bolster its air defenses amid rising regional tensions. The sale includes precision-guided munitions and is intended to strengthen a key ally against threats from the Houthis and Iran.
Why it matters
This arms deal signals a deepening US involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts and a commitment to supporting regional allies during active hostilities.
US and Saudi flags flutter along a highway of Riyadh, as pictured through the glass of a car, ahead of the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 12, 2025. —Reuters/File Listen to article 1x 1.2x 1.5x comments Join our Whatsapp Channel Add Dawn as a trusted source The US State Department said on Wednesday it has approved the sale of an estimated $1.96 billion in weapons to bolster Saudi Arabia’s air defences, as the war ramps up in the Middle East.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-Nato ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region,” the State Department said in a release.
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