The US asserted the need to help Saudi Arabia protect its territory against the attacks it's witnessing, stressing the commitment of the current US administration in this regard after the State Department approved arms sales to the Kingdom.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the approval of the missile sale to the Kingdom comes after "an increase in cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia," considering that these missiles have been used to intercept the drone attacks, which threaten both Saudi and US forces in the region.
The State Department notified the Congress of the sale of $650 million worth of missiles for Saudi Arabia, including 280 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles.
The State Department confirmed that this new deal would use air defense capabilities and can't be used to attack targets.
The goal is to replenish Saudi Arabia's existing inventory "in keeping with President Biden's commitment to supporting the territorial defense of Saudi Arabia," the spokesperson said.
The new deal was approved less than two months after National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visited Saudi Arabia, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The meeting touched on several issues in the region, most notably the Yemeni crisis and the causes of instability in the area, namely Iran's interference.
This comes as US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking travels to the region for "continued conversations with the Republic of Yemen Government, Yemeni civil society representatives, senior regional government officials, and other international partners."
The sale announcement is the second to Saudi Arabia under the Biden administration, following a previous announcement of a $500 million military contract. The Congress has 30 days to review the deal, and the US State Department confirms that the new weapons will also provide "protection for American forces."
"We've seen an increase in cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia over the past year. Saudi AIM-120C missiles, deployed from Saudi aircraft, have been instrumental in intercepting the persistent UAS attacks that have put US forces at risk and threatened the more than 70,000 US citizens in the Kingdom," the spokesperson said.
"The AIM-120C is an Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile which is not used to engage ground targets."
Meanwhile, President of the think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Richard N. Haass said the US administration has an interest in having clear Saudi-US relations based on the common interests of the two parties.
In an article on CFR's website, Haass explained that diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia contribute to resolving many issues, including the Yemen war and the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He considered that refusing to deal with Saudi Arabia, as rumored among political circles in Washington when Biden became President, is not the solution, adding that "pragmatic, conditional relations could bring protection and freedom to many Saudis, make possible collaboration to impede Iran's nuclear ambitions, wind down the war in Yemen, and advance prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace."
