The Biden administration has announced its decision to lift a three-year ban on the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. The move marks a significant shift in U.S. policy, which had previously aimed to pressure the kingdom to scale back its involvement in the Yemen conflict. The State Department confirmed the reversal on Friday, stating that the U.S. would now consider new arms transfers to Saudi Arabia on a case-by-case basis, in line with the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy.
Policy Shift and Congressional Briefing
The administration briefed Congress earlier this week on its decision, signaling the potential resumption of sales as early as next week. The U.S. government has already started issuing notifications about the upcoming sales. A senior Biden administration official emphasized that the decision reflects Saudi Arabia’s compliance with certain conditions, stating, “The Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours.”
Under U.S. law, significant international arms deals require congressional review before finalization. In recent years, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about supplying offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing civilian casualties in Yemen and broader human rights issues. However, opposition to these sales has diminished amid growing instability in the Middle East, particularly following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
Yemen Conflict and Regional Dynamics
Since March 2022, Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels have observed a U.N.-led truce, resulting in the cessation of Saudi airstrikes in Yemen and a reduction in cross-border attacks from Yemen into Saudi territory. The Biden administration acknowledged these developments, noting that the Saudi Ministry of Defense has made substantial improvements in mitigating civilian harm, partly due to the efforts of U.S. advisors.
The Yemen conflict, widely seen as a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, has been ongoing since 2015, when the Iran-aligned Houthis overthrew a Saudi-backed government in Sanaa. The war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and left 80% of Yemen’s population dependent on humanitarian aid.
Strengthening U.S.-Saudi Ties Amid Regional Tensions
The decision to lift the weapons sales ban is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia, particularly in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel. Washington has been working closely with Riyadh to develop a post-war plan for Gaza and has also been negotiating a defense pact and civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the kingdom. These discussions are part of a larger strategy to encourage Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, although this goal remains elusive.
The decision comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, with Iran and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon vowing retaliation against Israel following the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The Houthis, who have expressed strong support for Hamas, have also targeted commercial ships linked to Israel or bound for Israeli ports earlier this year.
The lifting of the ban on offensive weapons sales underscores the evolving U.S. strategy in the Middle East, balancing the need to maintain strong alliances with addressing human rights concerns and regional security dynamics.
Source: Reuters
