State Department Approves Sale of 300 Patriot Missiles to Saudi Arabia

Senior White House official denies weapons deal is ‘quid pro quo’ for increased oil production

The State Department has approved the possible sale of 300 Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia for around $3.05 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

DSCA informed Congress of the possible sale on Tuesday, which comes after President Joe Biden visited the Gulf kingdom in July and met with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region,” DSCA said in a statement.

The sale will replenish Saudi Arabia’s dwindling stock of Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical (GEM-T) missiles, increasing the U.S. strategic ally’s capability to face future threats, according to DSCA.

“These missiles are used to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s borders against persistent Houthi cross-border unmanned aerial system and ballistic missile attacks on civilian sites and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia,” DSCA added.

“These attacks threaten the well-being of Saudi, International, and U.S. citizens (approximately 70,000) residing in the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed forces.”

President Joe Biden (R) and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (L) attend a bilateral meeting at a hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 16, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

In addition to 300 Patriot MIM-104E GEM-T missiles, the proposed $3 billion deal will buy Saudi Arabia the necessary training, transportation, spare parts, tools and equipment, field support, quality assurance support, and logistical support services by U.S. government and contractors, and more.

Raytheon Corporation in Massachusetts will be the principal contractor that Saudi Arabia will negotiate