The State Department has approved a request for continued support services to Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of $200 million.
According to a release from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the sale “will enhance the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important partner which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”
“The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of support services by the United States Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia (USMTM). USMTM is the Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) responsible for identifying, planning, and executing U.S. Security Cooperation training and advisory support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Defense,” the DSCA said.
Recently, Saudi Arabia balked at the cost and delivery schedule for four littoral combat ships (LCS), but did not reject the offer outright. The U.S. is said to be working to prepare a new offer.
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest buyers of U.S. arms, and made the largest single purchase of U.S. arms in history in 2010, when the Kingdom bought over $60 billion in aircraft, helicopters and other military equipment.
In July 2015, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of 600 patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia at a cost of $5.3 billion.
