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said that Riyadh would spend US$1.8 billion for the servicing of their Analysts say now governments in the Gulf [ ANALYSIS ]
US-made fighter jets, spy, cargo and refuelling aircraft. Under the are likely to favour acquisition programs and
deal American military and civilian personnel would be stationed on other activities that draw on local sources and
Saudi military bases. Saudi Arabia also agreed to spend US$136 workforces and to accept delay and risk among
million to keep their spy planes in the air, with the support of 25 US imported solutions. This includes not just cap-
technicians. The former president also had agreed on a US$478 ital equipment, but also supplies and materiel
million deal to provide Saudi Arabia about 7,500 precision-guided needed for operations and sustainment.
bombs from Raytheon. However, the new U.S. administration, led Algeria, Turkey, Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia
by President Joe Biden, has temporarily put on hold all these deals. have all made varying degrees of investment
in their national defence industries, drawing
“GENERALLY SPEAKING WHEN IT COMES TO on a mix of domestic resources, foreign aid,
ARMS SALES, IT IS TYPICAL AT THE START OF and offset-driven contributions from foreign
exporters like the United States, France, and
AN ADMINISTRATION TO REVIEW ANY – ANY the UK. Avascent estimates that domestic com-
PENDING SALES, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT panies will be able to serve over 50 per cent
IS BEING CONSIDERED IS SOMETHING THAT of both Israeli and Turkish defence acquisition
ADVANCES OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND requirements.
ADVANCES OUR FOREIGN POLICY. SO THAT’S – According to Avascent Israel’s access to large
THAT’S WHAT WE’RE DOING AT THIS MOMENT,”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at his first press
conference

“Generally speaking when it comes to arms sales, it is typical at the
start of an administration to review any – any pending sales, to make
sure that what is being considered is something that advances our
strategic objectives and advances our foreign policy. So that’s –
that’s what we’re doing at this moment,” U.S. Secretary of State
Antony Blinken said at his first press conference late January.

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