Donald Trump’s administration has approved billion-dollar arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia, a major step amid escalating tensions with Iran and the ongoing events in Gaza. With this step, Washington strengthens the security of its allies and pursues its own strategic interests.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has approved possible arms sales to Israel worth a total of $6.67 billion and to Saudi Arabia worth nine billion dollars. The package for Israel includes, among other things, 30 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and multi-purpose light armored vehicles. Saudi Arabia, in turn, should receive 730 missiles for Patriot air defense systems. The AP and AFP agencies reported on this on Saturday, writes TASR.
- The US has approved arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia
- The value of sales for Israel is $6.67 billion
- Saudi Arabia will receive weapons for nine billion dollars
- The sale includes Apache helicopters and Patriot anti-missile missiles
The announcement of the proposed sales to US allies in the Middle East came at a time of high tensions between Iran and the US, as well as amid developments in the Gaza Strip. Trump threatened Tehran with military intervention for the violent suppression of anti-government protests and deployed a strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the region. In addition, the White House chief continues to push his Gaza peace plan.
They want to protect Israel’s interests
The largest item in Israel’s arms sales is Apache helicopters worth $3.8 billion. Tel Aviv should pay $1.8 billion for 3,250 armored vehicles intended for the Israeli armed forces.
“The United States is committed to protecting Israel’s security, and it is vital to the US national interest to help Israel develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the US State Department said in a statement approving the potential arms sale.
The package for Saudi Arabia 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 driver of political stability and economic progress in the Persian Gulf region,” according to the department’s statement.
