US approves missile defense system to Saudis
Deployment of Thaad system in Saudi Arabia bolsters US security against Iranian threat
Washington: The Trump administration has agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to acquire a sophisticated missile defense system.
The completion of a deal to allow the kingdom to spend up to $15 billion for an anti-ballistic missile system made by Lockheed Martin Corp. was confirmed by a State Department official on Wednesday night, hours after a bipartisan group of senators demanded stronger action against the Saudis for its role in the Yemen war.
The final arms agreement - which completed the sale of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, launchers, missiles and other equipment - was signed earlier this week, according to the State Department official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the matter.
The official argued that deployment of the Thaad system in Saudi Arabia would bolster US security against the threat of Iranian and extremist groups supported by the Tehran government.
Trump has repeatedly ruled out cutting off arms sales to Saudi Arabia as punishment for murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, arguing that the kingdom would simply purchase weapons from other nations.
Khashoggi, a critic of the kingdom’s leadership and a columnist for the Washington Post, was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in early October.
The crown prince has denied any role in the killing even as his government’s explanations of what happened have shifted.
Prince Mohammad has been on a foreign tour in recent days and has traveled to Buenos Aires for the G20 summit.
He has no formal meeting scheduled with Trump, who has largely been supportive of him over the Khashoggi affair.
The Senate on Wednesday voted to allow a debate, which may take place next week, on a measure to restrict US support for the Saudi military campaign against Al Houthi militants in Yemen.