US approves $2 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia

Washington has approved a new foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia that includes advanced air‑defence equipment, a move aimed at strengthening the kingdom’s capability to counter aerial threats. The package, valued at roughly $3 billion, comprises Patriot missile batteries, associated radars and fire‑control systems, as well as additional surface‑to‑air missiles and support services. The State Department and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale is consistent with U.S. policy to support regional partners and to maintain stability in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden corridors.

The approval comes amid heightened tension between Saudi Arabia and the Iran‑backed Houthi movement, which has intensified missile and drone attacks on Saudi oil installations and shipping lanes in recent months. Analysts note that the expanded air‑defence capability is intended to mitigate the risk of further escalation and to protect critical infrastructure. The United States has emphasized that the transfer will be subject to end‑use monitoring and that it does not alter its broader diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate the conflict in Yemen.