Washington’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 21 September that the Pentagon has authorized potential arms deal with Saudi Arabia worth $500 million. 

“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement (CLSSA) Program, Foreign Military Sales Order (FMSO) II and related equipment for an estimated cost of $500 million,” the statement read. 

“This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by supporting a strategic partner’s self-defense and promoting stability in [West Asia]” and will “maintain Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by allowing the RSLF to continue to purchase needed spare/repair parts.” 

The statement adds that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” as it would only fund components for Saudi Arabia’s existing Abrams and M-60 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, light armored vehicles, and Humvees. It would also fund spare and repair parts for rifles and pistols as well as crew-served weapons systems – a far cry from the advanced arms sales Saudi Arabia has been seeking from the US as part of its conditions for normalizing ties with Israel.

The potential deal received Pentagon approval just days after US media revealed that weapons maker RTX – formerly known as Raytheon – dropped a multibillion-dollar deal with Saudi firm Scopa Defense earlier this year due to “concerns” that the kingdom was pursuing business with sanctioned Russian and Chinese companies. 

Saudi ties to Moscow and Beijing have developed significantly recently, particularly in the wake of OPEC+ production cuts and increased energy cooperation with both countries. 

In March, the kingdom signed a Chinese-brokered reconciliation agreement with Iran, which many saw as a considerable political shift away from Washington. 

Nonetheless, the kingdom is moving forward with a US-sponsored push for normalization with Israel. In recent months, sources and officials have said that this potential deal would include US assistance for the kingdom in enriching uranium.

The deal also includes a firm defense treaty between Washington and Riyadh that would ensure both sides come to each other’s aid in the case of an attack in the region.

Riyadh has maintained publicly that Israeli concessions toward the Palestinians are integral to achieving normalization. 

A recent report claimed that the normalization effort has been stalled over Israeli abuse and oppression of Palestinians. However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) refuted these claims in an interview on 20 September, adding that the kingdom is “getting closer” every day to normalizing ties with Israel.