U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration has offered Saudi Arabia more than $115 billion in weapons, other military equipment and training, the most of any U.S. administration in the 71-year U.S.- Saudi alliance, a report has found.
The report, authored by William Hartung of the U.S.- based Center for International Policy, said the offers were made in 42 separate deals, and the majority of the equipment has yet to be delivered. Mr. Hartung told Reuters the report would be made available publicly on Sept. 8.
The report is based on data from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, a Department of Defense body that provides figures on arms sales offers and Foreign Military Sales agreements. Most of the offers, which are reported to Congress, become formal agreements. Washington’s arms sales to Riyadh have come under fire from rights groups and some members of Congress are disturbed by the rising number of civilian casualties in the Yemen war.
