US Approves $3.5 Billion Missile Sale to Saudi Arabia Ahead of Trump Visit

The United States has granted preliminary approval for a $3.5 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, involving the sale of 1,000 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles. This development comes ahead of President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to the kingdom later this month.

The proposed sale includes not only the missiles but also guidance sections and technical support. The weapons are to be manufactured by RTX Corp, based in Tucson, Arizona. The Royal Saudi Air Force, which operates the world’s second-largest fleet of F-15 fighter jets after the United States, is set to receive these munitions.

According to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, this sale aims to bolster the security of a partner nation that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region. The agency has notified Congress of the potential deal, which now awaits legislative approval.

This arms deal is part of a broader defense package that may exceed $100 billion, potentially to be formalized during President Trump’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has also expressed its intention to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years.

Saudi Arabia has faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over its military actions in Yemen and the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Despite these concerns, the proposed missile sale underscores the ongoing strategic partnership between the two nations.

In a related development, the U.S. has also given initial approval for Qatar to purchase eight armed MQ-9B Reaper drones, a deal estimated to be worth nearly $2 billion. These agreements highlight the continued defense ties between the United States and Gulf nations.