US to offer Saudi Arabia $100bn weapons deal as Trump visit planned: Report

According to six Reuters-connected sources who are close to the deal, the United States is reportedly prepared to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth more than $100 billion.

According to Reuters, the deal is reportedly in development ahead of Donald Trump’s planned trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE next month.

According to Reuters, top defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, RTX Corp, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics are reportedly providing advanced weapons systems, and several executives from those firms are scheduled to travel with Trump’s delegation.

According to the contractors, Riyadh could receive a variety of weapons, including C-130 transport aircraft, missiles, and radar systems, according to the sources cited by Reuters.

However, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet is unlikely to be accessible to Saudi Arabia. Only a select few nations, including NATO allies, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, can purchase F-35s from the US.

President Joe Biden, who was Trump’s predecessor, unsuccessfully attempted to ratify a new military agreement with Saudi Arabia with the aim of normalizing relations with Israel. Reuters said it was unable to determine whether Trump’s proposed deal would call for similar restrictions in Riyadh, despite the fact that the pact also called for a ban on Chinese investment and halting Beijing’s arms purchases.

A US defense official told Reuters that “security cooperation continues to be a significant component” of the US-Saudi relationship, but neither the White House nor Saudi officials immediately responded to the request for comment. Reuters cited none of the defense contractors, who responded to inquiries.

Following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, sales of weapons in Saudi Arabia decreased in 2018. In response to the murder and Riyadh’s involvement in the Yemen war, the US Congress banned the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia in 2021.