US, Saudi Arabia sign warplanes deal worth $29
bn
Friday December 30, 2011 08:32:06 AM,
IANS
|
Washington: The US has
signed a major deal worth about $29 billion to provide F-15
fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, the White House announced Thursday.
"The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed a
government-to-government agreement under the foreign military
sales program to provide advanced F-15SA combat aircraft to the
Royal Saudi Air Force," White House Principal Deputy Press
Secretary Joshua Earnest said.
The agreement includes production of 84 new aircraft and
modernization of 70 existing aircraft, as well as munitions, spare
parts, training, maintenance and logistics, Earnest said in a
statement.
"This agreement reinforces the strong and enduring relationship
between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and demonstrates the
US commitment to a strong Saudi defence capability as a key
component to regional security," it said.
The deal was part of an arms sale package the Obama administration
announced more than a year ago, Xinhua reported.
The deal comes as the tension in the Gulf region escalated over
Iran's nuclear program. Iran's top officials in recent days
threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most
critical oil route, if its oil exports are sanctioned by the West.
Top US officials have voiced concerns over the possibility of
rising influence by Iran in the region after the US pulled out all
its troops from Iraq this month.
The sale was seen as the latest effort of the Obama administration
to build a regional coalition to counter Iran. With the new
munitions, Saudi Arabia, a key US ally around the Persian Gulf,
would be able to expand the country's existing capabilities of the
air force.
The Obama administration reportedly also planned arms sale to some
other Gulf allies. The Wall Street Journal reported last month
that the US planned to sell thousands of advanced "bunker-buster"
bombs and other munitions to the UAE as a way to keep Iran in
check.
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