The Biden administration has reversed a three-year-old policy, lifting the ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. The decision comes amidst heightened regional tensions and aims to strengthen US-Saudi ties, bolstering Saudi Arabia’s ability to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East.
Britain’s approval of arms export licenses to Israel has significantly decreased since the start of the Gaza war, dropping to a 13-year low. While other countries like the US and Germany have increased arms sales to Israel, the UK’s approval for the period between October and December 2023 fell to a mere $1.09 million, a sharp decline from the £20 million approved in the same period in 2022. The UK government continues to issue licenses for certain military items, including components for aircraft and small arms ammunition for training, but the majority of recent approvals have been for non-lethal items such as body armor and military helmets. The decrease in arms sales comes amid criticism from politicians and human rights groups regarding the lack of transparency and public information surrounding these sales. Several other countries, including Italy, Canada, and the Netherlands, have imposed restrictions on arms exports to Israel due to concerns about how the weapons might be used.
The Biden administration has been criticized for what some have described as conflicting messaging on key subjects relating to the United States’ top Mideast ally: Israel. While the administration has reiterated America’s commitment to Israeli security remains “ironclad,” President Biden has also pledged that if the Israel Defense Forces incur substantively into the southern Gazan city of Rafah, “I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem.”
