Bahrain Mirror: The Pentagon announced on Monday that the United States would sell Saudi Arabia and Kuwait defense equipment, including monitoring blimps to Riyadh, in a bid to enhance US-Gulf alliances.

According to the statement (January 23, 2017), the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that the State Department "has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 74K Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS) Aerostats and related equipment, support, and training. The estimated cost is $525 million." 

Washington indicated that "this deal would enhance foreign policy goals and national security in the United States, through promoting the security of a key ally, which is still considered to be an assert for political stability and economic advancement in the Middle East", in reference to Riyadh.

In terms of Kuwait, the State Department "has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kuwait for sustainment and contractor logistics support for AH-64D Apache Helicopters" with an estimated cost of $400 million, as well as an additional proposed $110 million sale of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles.

On this level, Washington believed that Kuwait plays an important role in US efforts to guarantee Middle East stability, through providing a base and access for the US troops in the region.

Arabic Version