Trump and Salman sign nearly $110 billion US – Saudi defense deal


nsnbc : Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and U.S. President Donald Trump signed a nearly $110 billion defense deal on Saturday to bolster Saudi Arabia’s military capabilities amidst rising tensions in the region.

Trump receives medal from Salman_Saudi Arabia_May 2017The defense agreement takes effect immediately. It was one of a series of bilateral agreements that were signed to bolster the two countries’ military and economic partnership, including a second defense pact with options valued up to $350 billion over the next 10 years. One key agreement was a multi-billion dollar deal on cement.

Trump, speaking at a press conference in Riyadh while meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef at a Riyadh hotel Daaid said “It was a tremendous day. … Jobs, jobs, jobs.”

The White House said in a statement earlier the defense deals will create new opportunities for U.S. companies in the Middle East region and support “tens of thousands” of new jobs in the U.S. defense industry – not to mention profits for the United States’ military industrial complex.

The White House statement also said the deals will help both countries more effectively address common threats. “This package of defense equipment and services supports the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian threats, while also bolstering the Kingdom’s ability to contribute to counterterrorism operations across the region, reducing the burden on the U.S. military to conduct those operations,” the statement said.

The agreement was signed amidst U.S. and Saudi involvement in the war in Iraq (and Syria), both of which they helped to create by supporting “rebels”, and against the backdrop of the war in Yemen which has turned into a near-proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia and Iran support rival proxy forces in conflicts throughout the region, including in the two significant civil wars in Yemen and in Syria, where the embattled forces of President Bashar al-Assad are backed by Tehran and Moscow. Saudi Arabia (and the USA) for their part, have been involved in igniting the wars in Syria and Iraq bu supporting among others, the now common enemy ISIL, and other “rebels”.

Included in the defense agreements is a $6 billion pledge to assemble 150 Lockheed Martin Blackhawk helicopters in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to result in the creation of 450 jobs in Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, American conglomerate General Electric said Saturday it signed $15 billion in agreements with Saudi organizations. Saudi Aramco said it expected to sign $50 million in deals with U.S. companies in an attempt to diversify the kingdom’s economy beyond oil exports. Earlier Saturday, King Salman presented President Trump with the kingdom’s highest civilian honor during a meeting at the Royal Court in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. After Trump and others entered the court to the music of bagpipes, King Salman decorated him with the gold King Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal.

Trump arrived in Riyadh Saturday to begin his first foreign trip as president. Trump and his wife Melania, were greeted at the airport by King Salman. The king and the Trumps walked along the red carpet into the Royal Hall, a terminal at the airport, where they talked briefly. Minutes later, the Trumps, along with the Saudi king departed the airport in a motorcade, heading to the city along a route with deserted streets.

CH/L – nsnbc 20.05.2017



Source Article from https://nsnbc.me/2017/05/20/trump-and-salman-sign-nearly-110-billion-us-saudi-defense-deal/

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