The United States will sell Saudi Arabia $30 billion in combat aircraft and upgrades.
“This agreement includes production of 84 new aircraft and the modernization of 70 existing aircraft as well as munitions, spare parts, training, maintenance and logistics,” read a statement from the White House.
The statement appeared to cast the sale against growing tensions with Iran, an enemy of Saudi Arabia and a threat to U.S. interests in the Persian Gulf.
The Obama administration notified Congress of the planned sale in 2010. At that time, nearly 200 members of Congress wrote the administration to raise, among other concerns, the potential of the sale to narrow Israel’s qualitative military edge.
In response, according to a Congressional Research Service report, the administration said it was selling Israel F-35s, the Joint Strike Fighter. The CRS report said that when the planes are delivered, they “would maintain Israel’s status as having the most advanced fighter aircraft in the region.” — jta