NATO chief urges Brazil, China, India to rethink Russia ties
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is warning that major economies like Brazil, China, and India could face serious consequences if they continue tradi...
The United States is preparing to offer over $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The package is expected to be announced during President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.
The proposed deal includes advanced weapons systems from major U.S. defence contractors such as Lockheed Martin, RTX, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics. The package may feature C-130 transport aircraft, missiles, radars, and possibly MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, sources said.
A $20 billion drone deal with General Atomics has gained momentum over the past year, one source added.
It remains unclear how many components of the package are new. Several have reportedly been under discussion since 2018. Three sources said defence executives are expected to travel to Riyadh as part of the U.S. delegation.
The Biden administration previously attempted to seal a defence pact with Saudi Arabia tied to normalising relations with Israel. That plan included limiting Chinese arms purchases and investment, but ultimately stalled.
Trump, who previously touted arms sales to Riyadh as job-creating, first proposed $110 billion in deals during his 2017 visit. By 2018, only $14.5 billion had been initiated, and congressional opposition intensified following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Under U.S. law, major weapons sales must be reviewed by Congress. In 2021, President Biden imposed a ban on offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing the Yemen war and Khashoggi’s killing. That ban was lifted in 2024, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the October 7 Hamas attack led Washington to re-engage with Riyadh on regional security.
A potential sale of F-35 fighter jets—long sought by Saudi Arabia—could also be discussed, though sources downplayed the chances of a deal being finalised during the visit.
U.S. law mandates that Israel maintain a Qualitative Military Edge (QME), receiving more advanced American weapons than its neighbours. Israel has operated F-35s since 2016.
The White House, Pentagon, and defence firms declined to comment. The Saudi government has not responded to inquiries.
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is warning that major economies like Brazil, China, and India could face serious consequences if they continue trading with Russia, as the U.S. steps up pressure with fresh sanctions and weapons support for Ukraine.
The American leader stated that if an agreement between Russia and Ukraine is not achieved within that timeframe, "it will be very bad."
The European Union did not reach agreement on its 18th sanctions package against Russia on Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed following a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.
Russia, Iran, and China are increasingly involved in life-threatening activities on British soil—including attacks and kidnappings—often carried out by criminal networks or, in some cases, by children, according to two senior UK counterterrorism officials.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, affirming that both countries will keep communication channels open and explore cooperation opportunities despite ongoing strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region.
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