Saudi 'Defense' Deals: More Western Arms, Same Old Instability
📰 THE STORY: Deutsche Welle reports that Saudi Arabia's new defense deals, particularly with China and European nations, could significantly alter the Middle East's security landscape, touting the kingdom's efforts to diversify its arsenal beyond traditional US suppliers. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The 'Middle East security landscape' has been shaped for decades by
Western arms sales to authoritarian regimes like Saudi Arabia. From the U.S. arming Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war to the $100 billion in arms sold to Saudi Arabia by the Obama and Trump administrations, these deals have consistently fueled regional conflicts, most notably the devastating, US-backed war in Yemen where Saudi forces used Western weapons to kill tens of thousands.
Double Standard: Western governments and media outlets routinely condemn Iran's indigenous missile program as a threat to regional stability, while simultaneously celebrating or downplaying massive arms transfers to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. When a non-aligned nation develops defensive capabilities, it's a 'proliferation concern.' When a US-allied monarchy buys billions in offensive
weaponry, it's 'diversifying its defense portfolio.' Germany itself, while publicly touting human rights, has approved significant arms exports to Saudi Arabia, including Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft, despite the kingdom's involvement in the Yemen conflict. Follow the Money: These 'defense deals' are multibillion-dollar contracts that line the pockets of Western—and now