Nov 29, 2018

U.S. signs off on sale of missile defense system to Saudi Arabia

Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman walk into the State Dining Room of the White House in March, 2017

Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Trump administration signed off on a $15 billion deal to sell Saudi Arabia Lockheed Martin's THAAD missile defense system — regarded as "America’s crown jewel" — this week, Bloomberg reports.

The big picture: The deal has been a long time coming, but its completion comes amid a tumultuous turn in U.S.-Saudi relations. The Senate voted Wednesday to advance a resolution to pull U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen as lawmakers demand answers over the involvement of Saudi leadership, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Go deeper: Where Saudi Arabia fits in the global arms trade

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