What is the Relationship Between US and Saudi Arabia?
The United States’ relationship with Saudi Arabia is a unique one considering the fact that Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy that does not tolerate political dissent while the US makes democracy its centerpiece of foreign policy. Since 1933, when oil was found in Saudi Arabia, the two countries have had diplomatic relations and military cooperation. The United States has sold arms to Saudi Arabia since the 1950s, in part to enhance regional security and support for US policies in the Middle East. This cooperation has been an important factor in US foreign policy.
Impact of Hillary Obama
During her tenure as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton championed various policies toward the Middle East, including arms sales. Clinton firmly believed that arms sales could contribute to regional stability and help contain China’s growing influence. During her stint in office, Clinton approved the sale of $29.4 billion worth of US arms to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This was a substantial increase from weapons exports during George W. Bush’s tenure. In contrast, during former President Obama’s first term exports accounted for only $6.4 billion.
Saudi Arabia’s Arms Purchases
In May 2015, Saudi Arabia acquired 96 F-15 fighter aircraft and associated weaponry and equipment worth nearly $29 billion. This was the largest single arms sale to Saudi Arabia since 2010. The Obama administration also sold 84 F-15s, 69 helicopters, and a variety of missiles, mines, bombs, and other munitions. Interestingly, the Obama administration only held back on the sale of offensive weapons, such as advanced bunker busters (also called bunker-buster bombs, bunkerbusters, or depth charges), and laser-guided bombs.
Hillary Clinton’s Reasoning for Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
Clinton reasoned that US arms sales to Saudi Arabia would help the country’s modernization and provide a check on its regional rivals. She approved the sale of $29 billion of US arms to the Kingdom in an effort to strengthen the US alliance with Saudi Arabia. She noted that there was a need for Saudi Arabia to modernize its military forces in order to better defend itself against regional threats and ensure regional stability in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.
Furthermore, Clinton noted, the US was well-positioned to be a reliable arms supplier to the Kingdom, as it has been for decades. She believed that increased arms sales would improve inter-state relations and increase stability in the region. Additionally, Clinton saw the arms sales as a way of generating more jobs and tax revenue in the US.
Official Reaction to US Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
On June 17, 2015, a bipartisan group of senators wrote a letter to President Obama expressing their concern about US arms sales to Saudi Arabia in light of the country’s intensely violent campaign in Yemen. The letter states, “we are particularly troubled by reports that the Saudi Arabian-led coalition against the Houthi rebels is killing an increasing number of civilians and have not taken meaningful steps to avoid such casualties.”
However, the Obama administration defended the arms sales as being in the US national interest. In a statement, Obama said that US arms sales to Saudi Arabia would help the country defend itself from “regional aggression” and bolster the US government’s “longstanding commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security.”
What Came After?
Since then, the Obama administration has not taken any steps to stop or slow down US arms exports to Saudi Arabia. US arms exports to the Kingdom reached a record high in 2018, with the US selling $7.6 billion worth of weapons to the country. The US continued to sell arms to Saudi Arabia under the Trump administration, with the US selling weapons worth $6.7 billion in 2019 and $3.2 billion in 2020.
In 2020, in the wake of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, bipartisan efforts emerged in Congress to halt US arms sales to Saudi Arabia however, President Trump vetoed three bipartisan resolutions passed by the House and Senate that aimed to stop the sale.
The Humanitarian Impact of US Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
The US is not alone in arming Saudi Arabia. Many other countries, including France, Germany, the UK, and Canada have also sold arms to Saudi Arabia. However, these arms have been used to attack civilians in Yemen. According to Amnesty International, the US has sold billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia that have ended up being used in its military campaign in Yemen. This has led to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with more than 24 million people in need of humanitarian aid.
The ongoing war in Yemen has also caused famine and outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria. A 2019 report by the UN found that “civilians in Yemen have been killed, injured, and severely affected by the multiple parties to the conflict” and called on all States to stop arms transfers to all parties to the conflict.
US Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia: An Assessment
It is clear that US arms sales to Saudi Arabia have had a negative human cost in Yemen. However, it is also clear that US arms sales to the Kingdom are part of a strategy to protect US interests in the region. The arms sales have helped the US maintain its strong alliance with Saudi Arabia and provided a counterweight to China’s growing influence in the region.
At the same time, it is also clear that US arms sales to Saudi Arabia have been widely criticized, both domestically and internationally, for their human cost. There is a growing consensus in Washington that the US should take steps to limit weapons transfers to Saudi Arabia in order to mitigate civilian suffering in Yemen.
Conclusion
In conclusion, US arms sales to Saudi Arabia are part of a complex geopolitical strategy. On the one hand, they have helped the US maintain its alliance with Saudi Arabia and provided a counterweight to China’s growing influence in the region. On the other hand, they have been widely criticized for their human cost, particularly in Yemen. With a new administration in Washington, it remains to be seen how US strategy will change in terms of arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
