In what has been termed the biggest arms deal in history with the U.S., President Trump on Saturday signed a weapons deal with the Saudi King Salman bin Adbulaziz together with a series of other investment deals.
The biggest arms deal worth $110 billion was signed as part of the defense cooperation deal with the Saudis effective immediately and another $350 billion over 10 years. The defense package includes combat ships, missile defense systems, tanks, radar technology and cybersecurity technology.
“That was a tremendous day,” President Trump said about the deal. “Tremendous investments in the United States. Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs.”
President Trump is in Saudi Arabia for the first leg of his 9-day foreign trip to the Middle East and Europe. Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
The historic deal for defense equipment and services is aimed at helping Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region defend themselves against a growing Iranian threat as well as empowers the nation to fight the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism that has spread throughout in the region
Arming the Saudis also reduces American participation through intervention and helps redirect its focus to more pressing domestic and other global issues in the global issues.
Trump’s speech to the 50 Muslim leaders is expected to define in clearer terms the America’s role in the region, a clear contrast to the muddled position of Barack Obama. His solid position on the fight against radical Islamic terrorism will help elevate him as a different kind of American President and redefine U.S. role in the region.
The President is schedule to depart for Israel on the second leg of his 9-day foreign trip once he concludes his visit to the Saudi Kingdom where he has been for 2 days.
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