Monday, December 19, 2016

The U.S. And Saudi Arabia Are Playing Down Reports That U.S. Military Aid Is Being 'Curbed"

Saudi King Salman (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 18, 2016. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters: Saudi Arabia, U.S. play down reports of curbs on military support

Saudi Arabia and the United States on Sunday played down media reports that Washington had decided to limit military support, including planned arms sales to the kingdom, over its war in Yemen.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that Riyadh had not been officially informed of such decisions, which he described as contradicting the reality, while visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry suggested the issue related more to a long procurement process than restrictions on military support.

U.S. officials have said Washington decided to curb backing for Saudi Arabia's campaign in Yemen, including halting the supply of some precision-guided munitions, because of concerns over widespread civilian casualties.

Read more ....

Update: Saudi official denies reports US has decided to restrict military support (The Guardian)

WNU Editor: It looks like the Yemen war is not going as well as "advertised" .... U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets Saudi King Salman to discuss Yemen war in what is likely to be his last visit as America's top diplomat (Daily Mail). The Saudis are also probably wanting to know what (from Secretary of State John Kerry's point of view) will the incoming Trump administration policy will be towards Saudi Arabia, the Yemen war, and other issues.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

So if curbed military aid is the status quo, that dumbshit Obama has just given Trump a gift.

If Trump had scaled back, he could be attacked for not supporting an ally.


If Trump resumes sales, the Saudis will be greatful as much as they ever are.


Also Obama shows himself to be timorous by not doing what he wanted to do until the last minute.

Maybe the Saudis will no longer support Obama financially like they did when he went to Occidental College.