20240520
The White House stated on Monday that after significant progress was made during talks between the US National Security Advisor and Saudi Arabia over the weekend, the US and Saudi Arabia are close to finalizing a bilateral defense agreement.
White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said that the two sides are "closer than we've ever been" in their relationship and that the agreement is "near final." US and Saudi negotiators are working to complete a bilateral agreement that is expected to include formal US guarantees to defend Saudi Arabia and allow Saudi access to more advanced US weaponry. In return, Saudi Arabia will stop purchasing Chinese weapons and restrict Beijing’s investments in the country.
A US official stated that negotiators have been discussing the sale of F-35 fighter jets and other weapons to Saudi Arabia as part of the deal. Saudi Arabia has desired this stealth fighter jet for years, and while the sale of F-35s is not guaranteed, its inclusion in the discussions is significant.
Any agreement must satisfy a longstanding agreement with Israel, which stipulates that US weapons sold in the region must not undermine Israel's "qualitative military edge," ensuring that US weapons provided to Israel are superior in capability to those sold to its neighbors.
According to an informal review process, members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have the right to review and block weapons sales. These members have criticized Saudi Arabia's role in civilian deaths in Yemen.
The official said that the defense agreement would not be a NATO-style agreement. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Saudi officials over the weekend, and Kirby reported that progress was made during the discussions. A US official stated, "We are very close to an understanding on the major elements between us."
"We, of course, will also have to address issues related to the Israelis and Palestinians, which is a critical component of any potential normalization agreement," the official said. The US-Saudi security agreement is also expected to include sharing emerging technologies with Saudi Arabia, including artificial intelligence.
Once the deal is completed, it will be part of a broader agreement presented to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asking him to make concessions to secure a deal normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.
Kirby said the timing of a US-Saudi deal is unclear. He stated that President Biden's ultimate objective is a Palestinian state, but given that Israel is currently at war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, a state agreement is unlikely in the near future.
"Of course, the president remains committed to a two-state solution. He recognizes that you know, that's not something we're going to see anytime soon," he said.