Trump lauds Saudi Arabia arms deal
UNITED STATES: US President Trump is on a collision course with Congress after he declared that a US$110 billion arms deal between Saudi Arabia and America signals the strongest ever relations between the countries, as senators are debating how to limit military support for the kingdom.
Trump welcomed Mohammed bin Salman to the White House yesterday for their first meeting since he became crown prince of Saudi Arabia last year.
The US leader praised him as a ‘‘great purchaser’’ of American armaments as the two men finalised the supply of US$12.5b (NZ$17.4b) worth of warplanes, missiles and frigates to Saudi Arabia as part of last year’s overall arms deal.
‘‘Saudi Arabia is a very wealthy nation,’’ Trump said as he produced charts detailing the kingdom’s acquisitions. ‘‘And they’re going to give [us] some of that wealth hopefully in the form of jobs, in the form of the purchase of the finest military equipment anywhere in the world.’’
As they talked, the US Senate debated a resolution seeking to end US support for Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Yemen’s civil war. Some members of Congress have been critical of Saudi air strikes and infantry attacks which they believe have caused a humanitarian crisis and thousands of civilian casualties.
The overall US$400b deal includes arms and investment, and was sealed between Trump and the prince’s father, King Salman, last year. Trump claims that the deal will create 40,000 US jobs.
America’s relationship with Saudi Arabia ‘‘is probably the strongest it’s ever been. We understand each other’’, Trump said.
The two men are expected to discuss the threat of Iran and stability in the region along with the Saudi prince’s economic plan, Vision 2030, during his two-week tour of America.
Trump is believed to have helped the prince become heir to the Saudi throne last year. According to Michael Wolff, who has written a biography of Trump, the prince secured the friendship of the US leader’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and offered to be America’s ally in the kingdom.
Following a coup last July in which Salman removed his previously chosen heir and appointed Prince Mohammed, Trump is alleged to have said: ‘‘We’ve put our man on top.’’