The United States has approved a major weapons sale worth nearly $2 billion to Saudi Arabia, aiming to strengthen the kingdom’s air defenses as tensions rise across the Middle East.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the US State Department confirmed the proposed deal, valued at approximately $1.96 billion. Officials said the move is intended to support US foreign policy goals while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a key regional partner, according to AFP.
Washington described Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally” and said enhancing its defensive capabilities would contribute to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region. The package includes up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS), along with related equipment and warheads. These systems are designed to strike targets accurately while reducing unintended damage in crowded or sensitive areas.
The primary contractor for the deal will be BAE Systems, based in New Jersey.
US officials also stressed that the sale would improve coordination between Saudi forces and those of the United States, NATO, and other regional allies. They added that the deal would not affect US military readiness.
The announcement comes at a moment of growing instability. Saudi Arabia appears to be edging closer to renewed conflict with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Earlier this week, the Houthis launched missiles targeting an airport in the southern Saudi city of Abha.
The attack followed a strike on Sanaa airport by Yemen’s internationally recognized government, reportedly aimed at diverting a flight carrying a Houthi delegation returning from Iran. The Houthis have blamed Saudi Arabia for that incident, further escalating tensions.
At the same time, the United States has intensified its own military pressure on Iran, including the reimposition of a naval blockade. These developments signal a broader shift toward confrontation in the region, raising concerns about the possibility of a wider conflict.
