The US has lifted a major ban imposed on Saudi Arabia. On Monday, the US confirmed that it will resume the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. The US had imposed this ban expressing concern over human rights in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing war with Yemen. However, now the US has given a big relief to Saudi Arabia considering its role in resolving the Gaza war.
Three years ago, in view of Saudi attacks in Yemen, the US had stopped the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia citing human rights. Now, after lifting the ban, the US State Department said that the US will return to the agreement for the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to the media, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said, “Saudi Arabia remains a close strategic partner of the US and we look forward to expanding that partnership.
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The sour-sweet relationship between Joe Biden administration and Saudi
In 2021, as soon as Joe Biden took over as the US President, he started cornering Saudi Arabia over its human rights record. Soon after taking office, he announced that only defensive weapons would now be given to Saudi Arabia, America’s old arms customer.
Biden took the step after Saudi-led airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control much of Yemen were estimated to have killed thousands of civilians, including children.
However, the region has changed considerably since then. The UN, with US support, brokered a ceasefire in Yemen in early 2022, which has largely held.
Patel said, ‘Since the ceasefire, there has not been a single Saudi airstrike in Yemen and the cross-border firing from Yemen to Saudi Arabia has largely stopped. Saudi has fulfilled the terms of the agreements and we are also now ready to fulfill our agreement.’
Saudi role in the Gaza War
There was a time when Saudi Arabia was attacking the Houthis. Now, due to the Gaza war, the situation is such that while America, Britain and Israel are attacking the hideouts of the Houthis in Yemen, Saudi Arabia is silent.
Thousands of Palestinians are being killed in Gaza in the war with Israel. The Houthis are firing missiles at ships carrying goods in the Red Sea, an important trade route, to show solidarity with the Palestinians.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has visited Saudi Arabia several times to stop the Israel-Hamas war and find a permanent solution to it. Blinken is insisting that Saudi Arabia recognize Israel.
What does Saudi want in return?
In return, Saudi Arabia has demanded American security guarantees and a continuous supply of weapons. Saudi Arabia also demands that if relations with Israel become normal, then America should enter into a civil nuclear agreement with it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also considers normalization of relations with Arab countries as his goal. Countries like UAE, Jordan have already recognized Israel, but making this agreement with Saudi Arabia is a tough job for both America and Israel.
Saudi Arabia says it will not move forward on any agreement with Israel until Palestine is granted the status of a country. The Biden administration agrees to this, but Netanyahu and his far-right allies have strongly opposed it.
After Iran’s threat, America is trying to convince Arab countries
On October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, killing thousands of people, in response to which Israel launched attacks on Hamas-controlled Gaza which continue to this day. Before October 7, Gulf Arab countries were moving closer to Israel, largely due to their animosity with Iran.
Israel had attacked the Iranian diplomatic building in Syria. In retaliation, Iran also attacked Israel with missiles and drones, which Saudi Arabia along with Jordan and UAE supported the US in thwarting. However, the situation has changed after the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza.
Israel recently killed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyya amid the ongoing war with Gaza. Haniyya was killed in Iran’s capital Tehran, after which Iran has threatened to take revenge. Seeing its ally Israel receiving such threats, America is again hoping for support from its Arab partners in its defense.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)