Alwaght- Some members of the US Congress are demanding a reversal of Donald Trump’s multi-billion dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
Members of both the US president’s Republican Party and rival Democrats in both Congress and the Senate are hoping to block the sale of the weapons and equipment.
The agreement, which is worth $350 billion over 10 years and $110 billion that will take effect immediately was signed several days ago in the Saudi capital Riyadh between president Trump and Saudi King Salman.
In a letter to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressmen Ted Lieu, a Democrat and Republican Ted Yoho urged their colleagues to reconsider the sale of precision guided munitions (PGMs) to the oil-rich Persian Gulf Kingdom.
They pointed out that former president Barack Obama’s administration had halted a planned sale of PGM’s to Saudi Arabia in December, “due to concerns over the widespread civilian casualties in Yemen” and “significant deficiencies” in the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force’s (RSAF) targeting capabilities."
Saudi Arabia has launched a deadly aggression on neighboring Yemen, killing over 13,000 people.
The American lawmaker also urged the Foreign Affairs Committee to press the Trump administration to outline its strategy in the Yemen war and “explain the role that this proposed arms sale would play.”
“We therefore urge the Committee to call a hearing with the Administration, in a closed session if necessary, to obtain critical information pertinent to this PGM sale prior to the 30-day statutory window closing on June 20,” the letter read.
Human rights groups have slammed the deal, expressing concerns that sending the weaponry to Saudi Arabia will only worsen hostilities in Yemen.
“Trump should be urging the Saudis to shift course by abiding by the laws of war and holding those responsible for past abuses to account. Instead he will effectively be telling them to continue as before and not to worry – the flow of US weapons will not stop,” Kristine Beckerle of Human Rights Watch, said.
“Continued US arms sales to a country that has repeatedly violated the laws of war exposes US officials to legal liability for aiding and abetting coalition war crimes,” she noted.
