The Financial Times reported on Sunday that the United States is expected to lift a ban on the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, potentially in the coming weeks.
According to the newspaper, Washington has already communicated to Saudi Arabia its readiness to lift the ban, citing a source familiar with the matter.
Since assuming office in 2021, President Biden has taken a firmer stance on Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties. Additionally, concerns over Riyadh’s human rights record, particularly regarding the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, have influenced the Biden administration’s approach.
Saudi Arabia, a key customer for US arms, has felt the impact of these restrictions, which halted the sale of certain weapons that previous US administrations had supplied for decades.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Wednesday that the US and Saudi Arabia were on the brink of finalizing agreements on nuclear energy, security, and defense cooperation. These negotiations form part of a broader normalization deal involving Riyadh and Israel.
However, the lifting of the ban on offensive weapons sales is not directly tied to these discussions, as per the Financial Times report.