The $142 billion U.S. defense deal with the Saudis, part of the $600 billion in investments that President Trump announced in Riyadh yesterday, aims to provide “Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms,” reported a White House fact sheet. “The sales that we intend to complete fall into five broad categories: (1) air force advancement and space capabilities, (2) air and missile defense, (3) maritime and coastal security, (4) border security and land forces modernization, and (5) information and communication systems upgrades.”
“The package also includes extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces, including enhancement of Saudi service academies and military medical services,” it continued. “This deal represents a significant investment in Saudi Arabia’s defense and regional security, built on American systems and training.”
And that’s all the detail that has been officially released. Breaking Defense notes that the phrase “sales that we intend to complete” suggests “arrangements have not been finalized.” It adds parenthetically, “During Trump’s first term, a massive defense deal with Saudi Arabia was also announced, but that included non-binding agreements and deals that had already been in the works.”
