EXCLUSIVE U.S. weighs resumption of offensive arms sales to Saudis -sources

WASHINGTON/RIYADH, July 11 (Reuters) – The Biden administration is discussing the doable lifting of its ban on U.S. sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, however any last resolution is anticipated to hinge on whether or not Riyadh makes progress towards ending the struggle in neighboring Yemen, in accordance to 4 folks aware of the matter.

Senior Saudi officers pressed their U.S. counterparts to scrap a coverage of promoting solely defensive arms to its prime Gulf companion in a number of conferences in Riyadh and Washington in current months, three of the sources stated forward of President Joe Biden’s go to to the dominion this week.

The inner U.S. deliberations are casual and at an early stage, with no resolution imminent, two sources stated, and a U.S. official informed Reuters there have been no discussions on offensive weapons beneath manner with the Saudis “at this time.”

But as Biden prepares for a diplomatically delicate journey, he has signaled that he’s wanting to reset strained relations with Saudi Arabia at a time when he desires elevated Gulf oil provides together with nearer Arab safety ties with Israel to counter Iran. learn extra

At dwelling, any transfer to rescind restrictions on offensive weapons is certain to draw opposition in Congress, together with from Biden’s fellow Democrats and opposition Republicans who’ve been vocal critics of Saudi Arabia, congressional aides say.

Soon after taking workplace early final 12 months, Biden adopted a harder stance over Saudi Arabia’s marketing campaign towards the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, which has inflicted heavy civilian casualties, and Riyadh’s human rights file, particularly the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist and political opponent Jamal Khashoggi.

Biden, who as a presidential candidate denounced Saudi Arabia as a “pariah,” declared in February 2021 a halt to U.S. help for offensive operations in Yemen, together with “relevant arms sales.”

Saudi Arabia, the most important U.S. arms buyer, has chafed beneath these restrictions, which froze the sort of weapons sales that earlier U.S. administrations had supplied for many years.

Biden’s strategy has softened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March, which has prompted the United States and different Western nations to enchantment to Saudi Arabia, the world’s prime oil exporter, to pump extra oil to offset loss of Russian provides.

Saudi Arabia additionally gained White House reward for agreeing in early June on a two-month extension of a U.N.-brokered truce in Yemen, scene of the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. learn extra

Washington would now like to see it become a everlasting ceasefire.

An individual in Washington aware of the matter stated the administration had begun inner discussions in regards to the risk of eradicating Saudi weapons restrictions however indicated that they had not reached a decision-making stage.

Among the occasions when Saudi officers raised the request was throughout Deputy Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman’s go to to Washington in May, in accordance to a second supply.

Asked whether or not the administration was contemplating ending the freeze on offensive weapons, U.S. nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan didn’t instantly deal with the query however informed reporters on Monday: “Right now, there may be nothing on the desk to elevate that ban.”

“Right now, we’re targeted on strengthening and sustaining what’s a fragile however actual ceasefire” in Yemen, he added.

The Saudi authorities didn’t reply to a request for remark.

YEMEN CONFLICT

The sources confused, nonetheless, that no announcement was anticipated round Biden’s July 13-16 journey, which can embrace stops in Israel and the West Bank.

Any resolution, they stated, is anticipated to rely closely on whether or not Riyadh is deemed to have executed sufficient to discover a political settlement to the Yemen battle.

Among the biggest-ticket items the Saudis would likely seek are precision-guided munitions (PGM) such as those approved under former President Donald Trump in the face of objections from members of Congress.

But the Biden administration is expected to move cautiously as it discusses which systems might be offered, two sources said. Amnesty International said U.S.-made precision-guided bombs were used in a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a detention center in Yemen in January that killed scores.

If Washington eases the ban, it may be easier to push through sales of less-lethal equipment such as armored personnel carriers or replenish stocks of less-sophisticated ground-to-ground and air-to-ground weaponry.

Even under existing restrictions, the United States began stepping up its military support for Saudi Arabia earlier this year following Houthi missile strikes on the kingdom. read more

Washington approved missiles and an anti-ballistic defense system sales to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said in November, and the United States sent Patriot missiles this year as well – all deemed by U.S. officials to be defensive in nature.

The Biden administration has also maintained backing for the Saudis to receive a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system first approved in 2017 to counter ballistic missile threats.

While lawmakers have mostly acquiesced to such sales, Biden could face fallout on Capitol Hill if he decides to sell Riyadh offensive weapons again.

Some have questioned Biden’s decision to visit Saudi Arabia, seeing it as lending legitimacy to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi de facto leader who the U.S. intelligence community concluded was behind Khashoggi’s murder.

Among the likely opponents would be Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a staunch critic of the Saudi campaign in Yemen who praised Biden when he froze offensive arms sales.

An aide stated Murphy doesn’t imagine now’s the time to resume such provides.

Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Mike Stone in Washington and Aziz El Yaakoubi in Riyadh; Editing by Mary Milliken and Howard Goller

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