Trump poised to offer Saudis over $100 billion weapons package, sources tell Reuters

The United States is poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion, six sources with direct knowledge of the issue tell Reuters, saying the proposal is being lined up for announcement during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.

The offered package comes after the administration of former president Joe Biden unsuccessfully tried to finalize a defense pact with Riyadh as part of a broad deal that envisioned Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel.

The Biden proposal offered access to more advanced US weaponry in return for halting Chinese arms purchases and restricting Beijing’s investment in the country. Reuters cannot establish if the Trump administration’s proposal includes similar requirements.

The White House, Pentagon and Saudi government communications office do not immediately respond to requests for comment. In his first term, Trump celebrated weapons sales to Saudi Arabia as good for US jobs.

Lockheed Martin could supply a range of advanced weapons systems, including C-130 transport aircraft, two of the sources say. One source says Lockheed would also supply missiles and radars.

RTX Corp, formerly known as Raytheon Technologies, is also expected to play a significant role in the package, which will include supplies from other major US defense contractors such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman Corp and General Atomics, say four of the sources.

All the sources decline to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop and General Atomics decline to comment. Boeing doesn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters cannot immediately establish how many of the deals on offer were new. Many have been in the works for some time, two of the sources say. For example, the kingdom first requested information about General Atomics’ drones in 2018, they say. Over the past 12 months, a deal for $20 billion of General Atomics’ MQ-9B SeaGuardian-style drones and other aircraft came into focus, according to one of the sources.

Several executives from defense companies are considering traveling to the region as a part of the delegation, three of the sources say.