Adel Al-Jubeir - Arms Transfers

Arms Transfers

Ongoing arms sales between the countries are a testament to the longstanding Saudi military partnership with the United States. In 2008, the Kingdom secured sophisticated weapon systems, which include the Joint Direct Attack Munitions.

In October 2010, the Obama Administration notified Congress of a proposed arms sale to Saudi Arabia up to an estimated $60 billion – the largest U.S arms sale in history. The sale is meant to further align the Saudi military relationship with the United States and allow the Kingdom to better protect its security and oil infrastructure, which “is critical to our economic interests,” said Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary for political and military affairs, at a State Department news conference. The agreement will include the sale of 84 F-15 fighter aircraft, almost 200 helicopters and the upgrading of 70 older-model F-15s.

For both arms transfers, Ambassador al-Jubeir led an effort which brought together support from industry, labor, Congress and the Administration to ensure that the agreements were approved without objection.