The Biden administration has made a significant shift in US foreign policy, lifting the ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. This decision, announced by the State Department on Friday, August 9, reverses a three-year-old policy aimed at pressuring the kingdom to wind down its involvement in the Yemen war. The State Department has lifted its suspension on certain transfers of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia, with a senior official confirming that new transfers will be considered on a case-by-case basis, consistent with the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy. Reports indicate that sales could resume as early as next week.
This decision is driven by a complex set of factors, including a reassessment of Saudi Arabia’s conduct in Yemen, shifting geopolitical priorities in the Middle East, and a broader strategy to strengthen US-Saudi relations.
Since a UN-led truce in March 2022, Saudi Arabia has significantly reduced its military actions in Yemen, with no airstrikes and minimal cross-border fire. The US acknowledges the positive steps taken by the Saudi Ministry of Defense to improve processes that minimize civilian harm, partially attributed to US training and advisory efforts.
However, the decision to lift the ban goes beyond Saudi Arabia’s actions in Yemen. The recent turmoil in the Middle East, particularly after Hamas’s attack on Israel, has shifted US priorities. As regional tensions escalate, the US perceives it as strategically crucial to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia, seen as a key partner in maintaining regional stability.
The US-Saudi relationship has witnessed a warming trend, particularly in the context of addressing broader regional security issues. Negotiations for a potential defense pact and a nuclear cooperation agreement are underway, part of a broader strategy to bring Saudi Arabia closer to normalizing ties with Israel.
The removal of the arms ban can be seen as a gesture of trust, reflecting the US commitment to these strategic defense partnerships. The US is negotiating a broader defense pact with Saudi Arabia, including potential civil nuclear cooperation, aimed at aligning Saudi Arabia more closely with US interests.
Furthermore, the US views the conflict in Yemen as a proxy battle between Saudi Arabia and Iran. By resuming arms sales, the US seeks to bolster Saudi Arabia’s capacity to counter Iranian influence in the region, particularly given the Houthis’ alignment with Tehran and their support for Hamas.
The decision to lift the ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia represents a significant shift in US policy, driven by evolving geopolitical dynamics, a reassessment of Saudi Arabia’s actions in Yemen, and the strategic importance of strengthening US-Saudi relations in the face of regional instability.
