State Department Approves Over $2 Billion in Arms Sales to Middle Eastern Allies

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, crown prince, deputy supreme commander and prime minister of Bahrain, center, receives a brief on the GHOST 4 unmanned aerial vehicle at Naval Support Activity Bahrain on Jan. 31, 2022. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mark Thomas Mahmod

The Department of Defense has approved more than $2 billion in foreign military sales to Middle Eastern allies, including more than $1 billion in arms deals with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and $1.2 billion with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The three approved deals with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came at the country’s request, a spokesperson for the State Department told The Epoch Times.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA), the sales won’t “alter the basic military balance in the region” and won’t disrupt U.S. “defense readiness.”

On Oct. 11, the DSCA, an agency within the Department of Defense, notified Congress of the foreign military sale of “ammunition for artillery systems, machine guns, and tanks” totaling $139 million, the agency said in a statement.

The ammunition will be supplied by the U.S. Army and procurement vendors “unknown at this time.”

In a separate Oct. 11 statement, the DSCA stated that it has approved an additional sale of AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles and related equipment totaling $251.8 million.

RTX Corp., formerly Raytheon Technologies Corp., based in Arlington, Virginia, will be the principal contractor.

The DSCA approved a sale of $655 million in AGM-114R3 Hellfire II Missiles, the agency said in a third statement.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political and economic progress in the Middle East,” the DSCA stated.

Lockheed Martin Corp. will be the principal contractor.

The sale will also facilitate Saudi Arabia’s ability to defend against potential threats faced by U.S. forces stationed in its regions.

“Saudi Arabia’s continued investment in its defense capabilities is crucial to protecting its borders, energy infrastructure, and its residents. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these munitions into its armed forces,” the DSCA stated.

UAE Foreign Military Sale

The DSCA also approved $1.2 billion in foreign military sales to the UAE. If greenlit, the UAE will purchase rocket artillery called GMLRS and ATACMS munitions and related equipment.

As in the previous sales, the agency stated that this would support national security and foreign policy objectives.

“The United Arab Emirates has been, and continues to be, a vital U.S. partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” the DSCA stated. “The proposed sale will improve the United Arab Emirates’ capability to meet current and future threats by modernizing its armed forces.”

Lockheed Martin Corp. will be the principal contractor.

Each sale will require the temporary assignments of government officials and contractor representatives for up to 10 days to help with the equipment training.

Regarding the ultimate cost of the sales, the DSCA stated that the numbers are based on an initial estimate that is subject to change depending on “final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.”