US State Dept approves $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON - The U.S. State Department approved a possible foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related support for $3.5 billion, the Pentagon said in a statement on Friday.
The U.S. is poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the kingdom in May.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requested 1,000 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), 50 AMRAAM guidance sections and other equipment including spares, missile containers, and spare parts, and logistics support services.
The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Friday.
Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.
The principal contractor will be RTX Corp, according to the Pentagon. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Rubio meets Russia's Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting on July 10. KUALA LUMPUR - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asean foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia on July 10, as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine . It was their second in-person meeting, at a time when US President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the war in Ukraine drags on. Neither Mr Lavrov nor Mr Rubio made any comments to press at the start of the meeting. Russian drones and missiles bore down on the Ukrainian capital early on July 10, as escalating Russian attacks have strained Ukrainian air defences, forcing thousands into bomb shelters overnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched 18 missiles and around 400 drones in an attack that primarily targeted the capital Kyiv. There was no comment from Moscow, which the previous night launched a record 728 drones at its smaller neighbor. Mr Trump returned to power this year promising a swift end to the war, which began in 2022, and had been more conciliatory toward Moscow than his predecessor Joe Biden, who backed Kyiv staunchly. But on July 8, a day after ordering a resumption of deliveries of US defensive weapons to Ukraine, he was unusually critical, saying Mr Putin's statements on moving towards peace were 'meaningless'. Mr Trump has also said he is considering supporting a Bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium or other exports. Mr Rubio met with Mr Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur on the evening of July 10, having already met with the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations in his first trip to Asia since taking office. Mr Rubio and Mr Lavrov first met in Saudi Arabia in February as part of Mr Trump's effort to re-establish relations and help negotiate an end to the war. The counterparts also spoke by phone in May and June. The Kremlin said on July 9 it was relaxed about Mr Trump's criticism and would keep trying to fix 'broken' relations with Washington. At a conference of Ukraine-friendly nations in Rome on July 9, Mr Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met with Mr Zelensky. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump presses African leaders to take deported migrants, sources say
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox U.S. President Donald Trump hosts a lunch for African leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque MONROVIA - The Trump administration this week pressed five African presidents to take in migrants from other countries when they are deported by the U.S., two officials familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Thursday. The plan was presented to the presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon during their visit to the White House on Wednesday, according to a U.S. and a Liberian official who both asked not to be named. The White House and official spokespeople for the five nations did not respond to requests for comment. It was not immediately clear if any of the countries had agreed to the plan. Since returning to office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressing to speed up deportations, including by sending migrants to third countries when there are problems or delays over sending them to their home nations. On Saturday, eight migrants - from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan and Vietnam, according to their lawyers - arrived in South Sudan's capital after they lost a legal battle to halt their transfer. Wednesday's meeting at the White House had been organised partly to talk about the deportation plan, the U.S. official said. Liberia's government was "preparing to accommodate" an effort to house migrants in its capital Monrovia, the U.S. official added. The Liberian official confirmed that the deportation plan was a focus of Wednesday's meeting, but did not say whether Liberian President Joseph Boakai had agreed to it. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore PAP appoints new heads of backbench parliamentary committees Singapore Singaporean fugitive charged over alleged drug trafficking, faces death penalty if convicted Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to help prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha Sport No pain, no gain for Singapore's water polo teams at the world championships Singapore New regional centre for sustainable aviation in Asia-Pacific launched in Singapore Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that an internal State Department document sent to the African governments before the meeting called on them to agree to the "dignified, safe, and timely transfer from the United States" of third country nationals. Under the proposed plan, the governments would agree not to send the migrants "to their home country or country of former habitual residence until a final decision has been made" on their U.S. asylum bids, according to the report. Reuters has not seen a copy of the State Department document and could not confirm its contents. In public comments at Wednesday's meeting, Trump told the five leaders he was shifting the U.S. approach to Africa from aid to trade, and that the United States was a better partner than China. "I hope we can bring down the high rates of people overstaying visas, and also make progress on the safe third country agreements," Trump added. He was accompanied by Massad Boulos, senior adviser for Africa, and aide Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Conference commits over 10 billion euros to Ukraine rebuilding, Italy says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox ROME - Participants in a Rome conference on the economic recovery of Ukraine have pledged over 10 billion euros ($11.7 billion) to help the war-torn country, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday. The conference, attended by political leaders including Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is taking place against a backdrop of further intense drone and missile attacks on Kyiv. Speaking at the opening of the conference, Zelenskiy described the attacks as "pure terrorism". Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz cited the recovery of their countries from the ruins of World War Two as an example of what Ukraine could achieve. "I think we should be proud of the result we have achieved together today - nations, international organizations, financial institutions, local authorities, the business sector, and civil society," Meloni said in her opening speech at the conference. "Together, at today's conference, we have made commitments totaling over 10 billion euros," she added. The conference Italy is hosting is the fourth such event since Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022, and is mainly aimed at mobilising international support for Ukraine. The European Commission detailed 2.3 billion euros in support to Ukraine to help it rebuild. "With 2.3 billion euros in agreements signed, we aim to unlock up to 10 billion euros in investments to rebuild homes, reopen hospitals, revive businesses, and secure energy," von der Leyen said. "We are literally taking a stake in Ukraine's future," she added.($1 = 0.8524 euros) REUTERS
