The Trump administration has approved another $ 290 million guided bomb sale to Saudi Arabia, according to a statement issued to Congress on Tuesday.
The State Department has approved the sale of 3,000 ammunition manufactured by Boeing GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) and related equipment, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The sale announced Tuesday adds to a license the Trump administration recently advanced with approval that would allow Raytheon to sell 7,500 of its “smart” Paveway air-to-ground bombs directly to Saudi Arabia for an estimated $ 478 million.
Arms deals come even as lawmakers on both sides have increasingly opposed the sale of Saudi weapons amid thousands of civilian deaths in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Many lawmakers also reached their breaking point with the kingdom when a Saudi team killed and dismembered journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
But President Trump
Donald Trump Trump calls for an end to “global religious persecution” 850 years after Thomas Becket’s death Michael Cohen’s interview raises questions after mentioning friends in prison, Tony Meatballs and Big Minty, “Ocasio-Cortez,” both against Democrats , as well as Republicans who opposed, 000 direct payments MORE has made arms sales to the kingdom an integral part of its foreign policy, arguing that they are needed to counter Iran and increase jobs for US arms manufacturers.
Last year, the Trump administration pushed an $ 8.1 billion sale of “emergency” weapons to the Saudis, which lawmakers blocked through an informal lawsuit. Congress eventually passed bipartisan resolutions to block these sales, but Trump vetoed them.
Democrats have accused that secretary of state Mike Pompeo
Mike PompeoBiden calls for modernization of US defenses following the massive piracy of Trump’s legacy: a lasting contempt for the truth? Nothing becomes Donald Trump’s presidency as if he left it MOREThe invocation of the emergency authorities improperly evaded the congressional supervisory authorities. The inspector general of the State Department later found that Pompey was in his authority to carry out the sales, but condemned him for not making sure that American weapons were not used against the civilian population.
For the agreement announced on Tuesday, the administration said in a statement that the sale will “support US foreign policy and national security goals, helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be a major force for political stability and economic growth in the Middle East.”
“The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s ability to cope with current and future threats by increasing its stockpiles of precision long-range air-to-ground ammunition. The size and accuracy of SDB I allow efficient ammunition, with less collateral damage “, the opinion states.
Tuesday’s notice begins a 30-day clock, during which lawmakers can block the sale if they wish.
This puts an end to the beginning of the Biden administration, which could stop the sale if it wants to. President-elect Joe Biden
Joe Biden Mayor of Michigan draws criticism with Facebook posts suggesting rebellion: Trump report names Roisman, incumbent SEC president, Biden Interior, nominated discusses environmental injustice with tribal leaders promised to review the US relationship with Saudi Arabia.
The Trump administration has advanced billions of dollars in arms sales in the declining days of Trump’s term, including a $ 23 billion arms package to the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to the sale of weapons from Saudi Arabia, the Trump administration on Tuesday announced approvals for sales to Kuwait and Egypt.
For Kuwait, the administration has approved the sale of eight $ 4 billion Apache AH-64E helicopters and $ 200 million in spare parts to upgrade its Patriot missile system.
Egypt has been approved to buy a $ 104 million missile countermeasures system for its presidential planes and $ 65.6 million worth of military aircraft target capsules.