US Greenlights Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia Amid Historic Iran-Saudi Drills

Last week, Saudi Arabia, in a surprising turn of events, conducted joint military exercises with its long-time adversary, Iran, in the Sea of Oman. This development, indicating a thawing of relations between the two regional powers, was quickly followed by the US approving a significant arms sale to Saudi Arabia.

US Approves Sale of TOW Missiles to Saudi Arabia

The US announced on Thursday that it had approved the sale of 1,000 Tube-launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles to Saudi Arabia. The deal, which is worth $440 million, will be contracted to Raytheon.

Joint Naval Exercises Between Saudi Arabia and Iran

The announcement of the arms deal came on the heels of Saudi Arabia's revelation that it had conducted joint naval exercises with Iran. "The Royal Saudi Naval Forces had recently concluded a joint naval exercise with the Iranian Naval Forces alongside other countries in the Sea of Oman," a Saudi military official informed AFP.

Implications of the Arms Deal on Saudi-Iranian Relations

While the joint drills indicate a strengthening of ties between the Gulf powers, the US's decision to supply a large cache of weapons to Riyadh, even as it supports Israeli strikes on Iran, could potentially destabilize the emerging Saudi-Iranian relationship.

Similar US Approach in South China Sea

This move by the US mirrors its approach to the South China Sea. In July, China and the Philippines had agreed to a deal that eased tensions around the Second Thomas Shoal. However, the Biden administration subsequently sent $500 million in military aid to Manila, which led to renewed clashes between the Philippines and Chinese vessels near another reef in the South China Sea.

Evolution of Riyadh-Tehran Relations

Riyadh and Tehran have been gradually improving their relationship since Beijing brokered a landmark peace deal between the two countries last year. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has been steering the Middle East in a different direction, attempting to bring Saudi Arabia into a coalition with Israel aimed at Iran.

Historic Saudi-Iranian Joint Drills

In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia and Iran held their first joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman, marking a significant shift in their long-standing rivalry. This development came after a peace deal was brokered by China.

Raytheon Arms Deal Amid Controversy

The announcement of the substantial arms deal for Raytheon comes after the company agreed to pay nearly $1 billion in penalties for overbilling the Pentagon and bribing foreign governments.

Bottom Line

The recent developments in the Middle East, including the historic joint military drills between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the subsequent massive arms deal between the US and Saudi Arabia, are indicative of the shifting dynamics in the region. It remains to be seen how these events will impact the delicate balance of power in the Middle East. What are your thoughts on these developments? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it. You can also sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.