Saudi Arabia designated major non-NATO ally of US, gets F-35 warplanes deal

"US President Donald Trump hails elevation of military cooperation with Saudi Arabia to 'even greater heights'. President Donald Trump has designated Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally of the United States during a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington, DC, where the two leaders reached agreements covering arms sales, civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence and critical minerals."

"The designation means a US partner benefits from military and economic privileges but it does not entail security commitments. Saudi Arabia and the US also signed a historic strategic defence agreement, Trump said. A White House fact sheet said the defence agreement, fortifies deterrence across the Middle East, makes it easier for US defence firms to operate in Saudi Arabia and secures new burden-sharing funds from Saudi Arabia to defray US costs."

The United States designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Washington visit. The leaders reached agreements on arms sales, civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence and critical minerals. The designation grants military and economic privileges but does not create security commitments. A strategic defence agreement was signed to fortify deterrence across the Middle East, ease US defence firms' operations in Saudi Arabia and secure burden-sharing funds to defray US costs. The US approved future deliveries of F-35 fighter jets and Saudi Arabia agreed to buy 300 American tanks; Riyadh reportedly requested 48 F-35 aircraft.

Read at www.aljazeera.com