Amid Regional Tensions, U.S. Greenlights Major Arms Deals with Israel and Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON — In a move that underscores its deepening military commitments in the Middle East, the United States has formally approved two major arms sales, one to Israel worth $6.67 billion and another to Saudi Arabia valued at $9 billion. The State Department announced the deals late Friday, framing them as essential to regional security and U.S. strategic interests.
The approvals arrive at a delicate moment. Regional anxieties are heightened over potential U.S. military action against Iran, while the White House concurrently advances a ceasefire initiative aimed at ending the devastating Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The parallel announcements highlight the complex, often contradictory, pressures shaping U.S. policy in the region.
The Saudi package, the larger of the two, centers on 730 Patriot missile interceptors and associated equipment. In its notification to Congress, the State Department asserted the sale would "improve the security of a Major non-NATO Ally" and bolster Saudi Arabia's role in a regional integrated air and missile defense network. "This enhanced capability will protect land forces of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and local allies," the department stated.
The Israeli sale is divided into four distinct packages. The most substantial, priced at $3.8 billion, includes 30 Apache AH-64E attack helicopters outfitted with advanced targeting systems and rocket launchers. A second package, valued at $1.98 billion, covers 3,250 light tactical vehicles intended to improve the mobility and logistics of the Israel Defense Forces. Additional components include $740 million for armored vehicle power packs and $150 million for a fleet of light utility helicopters.
Officials emphasized that the sales to Israel are purely defensive in nature. "None of the new sales would affect the military balance in the region," the State Department said in a statement, adding they would "enhance Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats." The U.S., it reiterated, remains "committed to the security of Israel."
Analyst & Public Reaction:
"From a strategic standpoint, these sales are consistent with long-standing U.S. policy," said Marcus Thorne, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies. "They reinforce key partnerships at a time when Washington wants reliable allies to share the burden of regional deterrence, particularly concerning Iran."
"It's utterly grotesque," countered Layla Hassan, a human rights advocate with the Coalition for Peace. "While paying lip service to a ceasefire in Gaza, we're fueling the very machinery that perpetuates the cycle of violence. Sending billions in advanced weaponry into a tinderbox is not a policy for peace; it's a recipe for further escalation and suffering."
"The timing is certainly noteworthy," observed David Chen, a former State Department official. "Announcing these deals alongside a Gaza peace push sends mixed signals. It will be perceived by many in the region as the U.S. attempting to manage conflicts on multiple fronts through both diplomacy and intensified armament."