News - Middle East: The United States will send bombs worth $750 million to Saudi Arabia, local sources reported.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Biden administration is preparing to send bombs worth over $750 million to Saudi Arabia in the coming months.

The newspaper highlighted a significant shift in the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia.

The WSJ noted that the decision to resume these shipments reflects the White House's efforts to strengthen ties with Riyadh, with the alleged aim of advancing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and facilitating a potential normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

This move comes after years of strained relations between the two nations. Biden, who initially pledged to treat Saudi Arabia as a "pariah" due to its human rights record and the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has gradually softened his stance, particularly following his 2022 visit to Saudi Arabia.

"The Saudis will view this as addressing a strategic stain on relations with the US," said Dana Stroul, a former senior Pentagon official. The decision is also seen as a reward for Saudi Arabia's cooperation on regional security issues, including its openness to discussions on long-term normalization with Israel.

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

Arms sales to Saudi Arabia are regularly criticized by NGOs like Amnesty International, which argue that 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.