US to lift ban on offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia

The United States is preparing to lift its ban on the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, according to a Foreign Ministry report. Financial Times.

The move is seen as part of a broader series of agreements on nuclear energy, security and defense cooperation, all linked to a possible normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The Biden administration has already indicated its desire to lift the ban, as reported by a source familiar with the matter. This ban was initially imposed when President Joe Biden took office in 2021, in response to Saudi Arabia's military campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, which resulted in significant civilian casualties.

The United States has also sought to hold Riyadh accountable for human rights violations, particularly the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia, the largest buyer of U.S. weapons, is unhappy with the restrictions, which have disrupted the supply of offensive weapons that previous administrations regularly supplied.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently said the United States and Saudi Arabia are close to reaching agreements on nuclear energy, security and defense cooperation. These agreements constitute the bilateral component of a broader normalization agreement between Riyadh and Israel.

Prospects for an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal could depend on Israel accepting a Palestinian state as a long-term goal, a position that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted.

Despite this, the United States continues to advance its initiative. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan recently discussed the issue with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emphasizing its importance.

Some Biden administration officials have expressed the urgency of reaching an agreement before the 2024 presidential election, suggesting the administration could soon present the diplomatic initiative publicly, forcing Netanyahu to make a decision.