US pulls two Patriot batteries, some jets out of Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON, May 9, (Agencies): The US is pulling two Patriot missile batteries and some fighter aircraft out of Saudi Arabia, an American official said Thursday, amid tensions between the Kingdom and the Trump administration over oil production.
The official said the decision removes two batteries that were guarding oil facilities in Saudi Arabia but leaves two Patriot batteries at Prince Sultan Air Base in the Saudi desert, along with other air defense systems and jet fighters.
The decision scales back the American presence in Saudi Arabia just months after the Pentagon began a military buildup there to counter threats from Iran. About 300 troops that staff the two batteries would also leave Saudi Arabia, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.
The move comes as the US has sent Patriot systems into Iraq to protect American and allied troops there, who came under an Iranian missile attack earlier this year. The Army has a limited number of the systems, and they routinely must be brought home for upgrades.
Two other Patriot batteries that are in the Middle East region are also heading home to the US, in a planned redeployment for maintenance and upgrades.
It’s not clear, however, whether the ongoing oil dispute or the struggle to parcel out the much-coveted Patriot systems was the key factor in the US decision to pull systems out of the Kingdom.
Asked about the move, President Donald Trump said, “We’re making a lot of moves in the Middle East and elsewhere. We do a lot of things all over the world, militarily we’ve been taken advantage of all over the world.”
He didn’t provide details, but added, “This has nothing to do with Saudi Arabia. This has to do with other countries, frankly, much more.”
When Saudi Arabia ramped up oil production and slashed prices this year, Republicans accused the Kingdom of exacerbating instability in the oil market, which was already suffering because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The volatility and price crash in oil hurt US shale producers, leading to layoffs in the industry, particularly in Republican-run states.
Some Republican senators warned in late March that if Saudi Arabia did not change course, it risked losing American defense support and facing a range of potential “levers of statecraft” such as tariffs and other trade restrictions, investigations and sanctions.
The US official said a THAAD anti-ballistic missile defense system will also remain in Saudi Arabia. The THAAD complements the Patriots by providing a defense against ballistic missiles traveling outside Earth’s atmosphere.
The Saudi government and the Saudi Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. State-run media in the Kingdom similarly did not immediately acknowledge the troop removal.
The Pentagon announced last year that it would begin deploying forces and Patriot batteries to Prince Sultan Air Base, a former US military hub. The move was one of the more dramatic signs of America’s decision to beef up troops in the Middle East in response to threats from Iran.
When Gen Frank McKenzie, top US commander for the Middle East, visited the base earlier this year, the American troop presence had grown to roughly 2,500. At the time, McKenzie told reporters with him that the base was a key strategic location, but that continued presence of troops and weapons there would depend on other national security needs around the world.
His Highness the Amir also commended the government efforts, which led to the successful repatriation of Kuwait citizens abroad.
His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the cabinet, as well as senior officials played an important role in countering COVID-19, said His Highness the Amir who asked the people to ponder the lessons learned from the current dilemma.
He added the pandemic had resulted in various challenges including the decrease of oil prices and investments, noting that it was time to focus on using resources wisely and effectively.
The legislative and executive powers now have the role of wisely spending resources to overcome the current dilemma and move forward towards a bright future, said His Highness the Amir who took also the chance to congratulate the people on was remaining period of the current blessed month, Ramadhan.