RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the United States have signed a record-breaking defence agreement valued at nearly $142 billion, marking the largest arms deal in history. Announced by the White House during a high-level meeting in Riyadh, the agreement reflects deepening military and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
The comprehensive deal spans multiple sectors, providing Saudi Arabia with defence equipment and services from over a dozen American defence manufacturers. It includes advanced technology and systems in five key areas: air and missile defence, space and air force capabilities, maritime and coastal security, land forces modernisation, and communications infrastructure.
In a statement, the White House confirmed that the agreement will significantly enhance Saudi Arabia’s military capacity, aiming to ensure regional stability and support shared security goals. Notably, the deal also covers border security enhancements to combat threats from non-state actors.
Beyond equipment supply, the package features a robust training and development programme. This includes capacity building for the Saudi armed forces, investment in Saudi military academies, and improvements to military medical services, underlining a long-term partnership rather than a one-time arms transaction.
Officials described the agreement as a cornerstone of US-Saudi relations, aligning with broader diplomatic goals in the Gulf region. The deal was signed during former President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom, which also witnessed the finalisation of several economic and energy-related memorandums.
While the agreement has drawn attention for its scale, it is also being analysed for its geopolitical implications, particularly in the context of rising regional tensions and competition over defence influence in the Middle East.
Observers say the deal marks a strategic shift, placing Saudi Arabia among the top global defence spenders with access to some of the world’s most advanced defence technologies.
