LONDON – Riyadh and London have decided to finalize a multi-billion-dollarcontract for the sale of 48 Typhoon fighter jets to the Persian Gulf state.
The preliminary agreement to move forward the long-running talks on thesale of the Eurofighter Typhoonslink> came at the endof a three-day visit to Britain by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The deal has been under discussion for years, but was snagged over thesides’ disagreement over the place of the jets’ production, with Riyadhwishing to have the jets partially assembled in Saudi Arabia.
Completion of the deal would come as a major boost for Britain’s combat airindustry just weeks after the government announced plans to conduct anindustrial strategy review of the sector.
“We have taken a vital step towards finalizing another order for Typhoonjets that will increase security in the Middle East and boost Britishindustry and jobs,” UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson said.
Saudi Arabia currently operates 72 Typhoons from a first batch of jetsordered in 2007. The final jets from that order were delivered in the firsthalf of last year.
The British government is defending the sale of the planes to Saudi Arabiaamid growing pressure to completely halt arms exports to Saudi Arabiawith critics warning it will strengthen Riyadh’s hand in its ongoing militarycampaign link> in Yemen.
During Wednesday’s parliamentary debate on the issue, Prime MinisterTheresa May underscored her government’s support for the Saudi-led militarycampaign in Yemen, which she said has been supported by the UN SecurityCouncil.
Theresa May and her government have also been taking flak from theopposition for signing a hefty, $138-million, aid deal with Saudi Arabia,purportedly to create infrastructure in poor countries just as Riyadh’smilitary operation in Yemen has been blamed for pushing the impoverishedcountry in a humanitarian crisis, the Press TV wrote.
The agreement was inked during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’svisit to London.
The government has defended the controversial deal as a “new long-termpartnership” to promote economic development in some of the world’s poorestcountries.
Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of nine African and Middle Easterncountries in a military operation in Yemen in a bid to reinstall theinternationally-recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.