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US greenlights missile sale to Saudi Arabia, signals defense support against Iran: The US State Department approved a USD 440 mn sale of TOW missiles to Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters. NYSE-listed RTX Corp. will spearhead the transaction, though details on the quantity remain under wraps. The approved sale comes around two weeks after the State Department approved a total of USD 1.05 bn-worth of arms sales to Saudi, including Hellfire and Sidewinder missiles, as well as tank, artillery, and machine gun ammunition.
Background: The Biden administration lifted a three-year ban on the sale of offensive weapons to the Kingdom in August, saying that Riyadh upheld its end of an agreement with Washington on drawing back its conflict with the Houthis in Yemen.
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The approved sales come as Washington reportedly signaled it’s ready to defend Saudi Arabia against potential attacks from Iran or its proxies, Bloomberg reports, citing people it says are familiar with the matter. Gulf states are concerned about the possibility of being pulled into the brewing conflict between Iran and Israel. Tehran has warned Gulf nations not to allow their airspace or military bases to be used in any attack, threatening that “Tehran will respond accordingly” if they do.
Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s air strikes on Iran on Friday, referring to the attack as a breach of Iranian sovereignty and international law, SPA reports. The Kingdom also reiterated its warnings concerning continued escalation in the region, urging all parties to exercise restraint and pursue de-escalation. It also called on the international community to take positive steps towards safeguarding regional stability. Saudi officials deny that their country’s airspace was used in the strike against Iran, Reuters reports.
IN OTHER DIPLOMACY NEWS-
Saudi assistance to Palestine gets governance standards: The Arab Monetary Fund and the Palestinian government inked a letter of intent to roll out governance standards for financial assistance from the Kingdom to Palestine’s government on the sidelines of World Bank and IMF annual meetings in Washington, state news agency SPA reports.
The agreement will see aid efforts geared towards vital sectors accompanied with economic reforms, including steps to increase local revenue and limit expenditures, with additional measures to boost efficiency, governance, and transparency in public finances management while fostering business growth. Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to monthly aid, while Palestine pledged transparency in fund management and reporting.
