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The United States will grant Saudi Arabia “major non-NATO ally” status, giving the oil-rich autocratic regime preferential access to military and economic privileges and deeper ties with the US military-industrial complex.
President Donald Trump announces the country’s new status at a black tie dinner honoring the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia In fact The ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, late Tuesday night.
“I am pleased to announce that we are taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a Major Non-NATO Ally, which is so important to them,” Trump said.
He said he had kept the move a secret until the dinner as a surprise for the crown prince, who has spent years building deep ties to Trump’s family and business interests since the president’s first term in the White House.
Turning to bin Salman, who is often referred to by his initials, MBS, Trump called the Saudi kingdom’s new status “another point you won today,” adding that he described it as a “historic strategic defense agreement” that the two leaders signed earlier in the day.
According to the US State Department, countries with “major non-NATO ally” status may receive “certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation”, including eligibility for “loans of material, supplies or equipment for cooperative research, development, test or evaluation purposes” and designation as a location for US military stockpiles.
The new designation means Saudi Arabia can also purchase US-made depleted uranium ammunition, receive priority for deliveries of surplus equipment including warplanes and ships – and Saudi contractors will be allowed to bid on contracts to repair and maintain US military equipment.
Saudi Arabia will be the tenth country to formally receive the major non-NATO ally designation, joining Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand and Tunisia.
Taiwan is also recognized as a major non-NATO ally under US law, but is not formally designated as one due to the US’s long-standing “One China” policy.
More to follow…