News - Middle East: US Department of State has approved a military sales package for Saudi Arabia worth approximately $2.8 billion. 

This announcement came on Tuesday from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which manages arms sales to foreign governments for the US Department of Defense.

The sales package includes a "logistical and sustainable support system" and has been certified and submitted to Congress. The statement highlighted that this sale would enhance Saudi Arabia's security and support US foreign policy and national security objectives.

Saudi Arabia is one of the world's leading arms importers, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Arms sales to Saudi are regularly criticised by NGOs like Amnesty International which say some of the weapons delivered to Riyadh are ultimately used in Yemen.

Following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which US intelligence linked to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Germany announced an embargo on arms sales to Riyadh, which it lifted in January.