Washington: A group of senators A.S. Again against the first sales of the first Biden Administrative weapon to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the involvement of Riyadh in conflict in Yemen, three senators announced on Thursday.
The resolution of the insend of disapproval to block $ 650 million proposed in the sale of US weapons to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was introduced by the Republic of Rand Paul and Mike Lee, and Bernie Sanders who had caucus with Democrats.
While many US parliamentarians consider Saudi Arabia as an important partner in the Middle East, they have criticized the country because of his involvement in the war in Yemen, a conflict which is considered one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world. They refused to agree to many military sales for the Kingdom without guarantee equipment A.S. will not be used to kill civilians.
Activists said Saudi Arabia had likingly against expanding the mandate of the United Nation researchers who had documented the possibility of war crimes in Yemen by the Riyadh coalition and the Houthi movement.
The package approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will include 280 AIM-120C-7 / C-8 Media Advanced Air-to-Air Range (Amraque), 596 LAU-128 RUDAL RAIL Launchers (MRL) along with containers and supporting equipment, spare parts , US government and contracting techniques and technical support.
In a statement Paul said, “This sale can accelerate the weapons race in the Middle East and endanger the security of our military technology.”
“When the Saudi government continues to improve his awesome war in Yemen and suppress his own people, we should not respect them with more weapons sales,” Sanders said in a joint statement.
Raytheon Technologies made missiles.
Biden administration said it adopted a policy only selling defensive weapons for the bay ally.
When the Department of Foreign Affairs approved the sale of a spokesman for the Sales Word “was fully consistent with the administrative appointment to lead with diplomacy to end the conflict in Yemen.” Air-to-air missiles ensure “Saudi Arabia has the means to defend itself from Houthi air strikes supported by Iran,” he said.
The approval of the Ministry of Finance from sales is not necessarily an indication of a signed contract.
