Trump's agreement for a $2.8 billion arms sale with Saudi Arabia.

 

The U.S. State Department has granted approval for the sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia, as confirmed by the Pentagon. This marks the latest arms agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia under President Donald Trump.

On Friday, March 21, the news outlet Al Arabiya reported this information.

Previously, in July, the State Department approved a separate deal valued at approximately $2.8 billion, which includes the provision of logistics systems, joint planning programs, and equipment related to U.S.-made aircraft to Saudi Arabia.

At that time, the Department of State indicated in a memorandum to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency that this agreement would assist Saudi Arabia in enhancing both its current and future military capabilities. The document also highlighted the support and training provided for the Saudi Air Force, particularly concerning existing platforms such as the C-130 transport aircraft, E-3 surveillance aircraft, and Bell helicopters.

Meanwhile, the General Authority for Military Industries of Saudi Arabia has reported that the country's military expenditure has been increasing at an annual rate of 4.5% since 1960, reaching $75.8 billion in 2024. As a result, Saudi Arabia has become the fifth largest military spender globally and the top spender in the Arab world.

The authority also indicated that the defense budget for Saudi Arabia has been set at $78 billion for 2025, which constitutes 21% of the total government expenditure and 7.1% of the nation's GDP. The country's defense spending accounts for 3.1% of global military expenditures, which total $2.44 trillion.