US prepares to resume offensive arms sales to Riyadh – www.israelhayom.com

The United States is expected to lift its ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, according to U.S. officials, signaling a potential recalibration of the Biden administration's posture toward the kingdom, the Financial Times reported.

The move would represent a reversal from President Joe Biden's decision shortly after taking office to suspend such arms sales, made by him to criticize Saudi Arabia's military involvement in Yemen's civil war. and to express concern about the use of American-made munitions in airstrikes that resulted in civilian casualties. victims.

However, the decision was revisited following the United Nations brokering a truce in Yemen in 2022, which has largely held as Riyadh seeks to extricate itself from the conflict it entered nine years ago. “Lifting the ban would be an important step in continuing to rebuild relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia,” Ali Shihabi, a Saudi commentator with close ties to the royal court, told the daily. FT. “And lifting the ban has become more important given the way the Houthis have behaved since October 7,” he added, referring to attacks carried out by the terrorist group since hostilities began on October 7. October 7.

A change of tone towards a key partner

The expected move represents the latest indication of improving relations between Washington and Riyadh, the Financial Times reported. Senior U.S. officials said this week that the two countries were close to finalizing a series of bilateral agreements, including a defense pact and cooperation on Saudi Arabia's new civilian nuclear program.

The deals would be part of a broader U.S.-brokered deal that could lead Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, provided the Jewish state agrees to take steps toward creating a Palestinian state. The White House declined to comment on the potential lifting of the ban on offensive weapons.

President Biden had pledged to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” over human rights concerns, including after the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul. “During the 2019 election campaign, Biden also accused the Saudis of 'child murder,' apparently referring to the war in Yemen, in which thousands have been killed,” the article notes from the Financial Times.

However, relations have improved significantly since then, thanks in part to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which reinforced Washington's belief that Saudi Arabia needs cooperation on crucial issues like energy and support for American policy in the Middle East, according to the Financial Times.