(Photo credit: AP)
The United States on Tuesday inked a broad set of agreements with Saudi Arabia on civil nuclear co-operation and AI, and cleared a major defence package that includes the long-anticipated sale of F-35 jets, the White House said.In its statement, the White House said the two countries inked a joint declaration on the Completion of Negotiations on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation that establishes the legal framework for a “decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership built on strong non-proliferation standards”.
It added that US President Donald Trump had approved a “major defence sale package” involving future deliveries of advanced F-35 aircraft. The announcement was detailed in a factsheet published on the White House website, which also said the agreements deepen the US-Saudi strategic partnership, expand opportunities for American workers and strengthen regional security.This comes in the wake of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the United States, during which the White House said the Kingdom increased its investment commitments in the US from the $600 billion announced during Trump’s visit to Riyadh in May to nearly $1 trillion. According to the factsheet published on The White House website, the latest agreements cover a broad set of sectors. These include a Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, a framework on critical minerals aimed at diversifying supply chains, and an artificial intelligence memorandum of understanding that would give Saudi Arabia access to American systems while ensuring protections for US technology. The two sides also signed a Strategic Defence Agreement described by the White House as strengthening their more than 80-year security partnership and bolstering deterrence across the Middle East.The defence package includes future F-35 jets and nearly 300 American tanks, which the White House said would support the US industrial base and create high-paying jobs.(With inputs from agencies)
