US will provide new training to Saudi Arabia in billion dollar deal

Saudi Arabia has had a request to purchase training for the kingdom’s air force from the United States approved by the State Department. Here’s what Saudi Arabia will get and why it matters for the stability of the Middle East. 

The State Department approved the sale of what is known as Blanket Order Training in Washington, which essentially means the United States has agreed to provide training to the Royal Saudi Air Force in several important areas. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By SSGT Robert C. Simons

It’s important to note that the Blanket Order Training approved by the State Department was requested as part of a continuation of the previous blanket training order and the price of the new program's continuation totals $1 billion. 

A press release from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on the request detailed the program training. For example, flight training, technical training, specialized training, and professional military training were all included.

By Sgt. Erica Knight

However, even more specific details about what the Royal Saudi Air Force would learn were also provided in the press release, which included English language instruction for the country’s airmen as well as other Saudi forces. 

A total of 339 training personnel will be sent to Saudi Arabia according to The Defense Post. This will include mobile training teams, specialized training teams, and a technical assistance field team as part of the renewed deal. 

“These blanket order training cases will cover all relevant types of training offered by or contracted through the US Air Force or Department of Defense Agencies,” reported the press release. But what does that statement mean?

One of the most interesting aspects of the continued training program is that it will focus on subjects like “civilian casualty avoidance” as well as the “laws of armed conflicts; human rights; command and control” and other programs. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Ibrahem Qasim - Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

“Program management; trainers, simulators; travel; billeting; and medical support may also be included,” the press release by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency read before explaining the goals of the training programs. 

“The training will assist Saudi Arabia by fostering a climate of security in the region through the improved proficiency of the Royal Saudi Air Force. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing this training into its armed forces,” explained the press release.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By PV2 Andrew W. McGalliard

The proposed sale is also intended to help Saudi Arabia improve its capabilities so that the kingdom can meet both the current and future threats it is facing. The training will help increase Saudi-US military interoperability.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Senior Airman Giovanni Sims

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a friendly country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” the press release read. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Qrmoo3 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

It was also noted that the sale of the equipment and support being sold to Saudi Arabia would not alter the balance of power in the region nor would it harm the readiness of the United States military. But it may be a sign of warming relations.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Qrmoo3 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

On December 21st, the New York Times reported that the United States was preparing to ease some of the arms restrictions President Joe Biden had placed on the kingdom in 2021 after growing concerns that US weapons might have been used in Yemen. 

Saudi Arabia has led a coalition of Arab forces against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015 when the kingdom and its Arab allies began an air campaign against the rebels according to a BBC News report. 

In June 2022, The Washington Post reported that the Saudi-led coalition had launched more than 150 airstrikes on civilian targets in Yemen, many of which included strikes on homes, hospitals, and other non-military targets. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Felton Davis - 08-14 17 March for Yemen, CC BY 2.0

At least 24,000 people had been killed by the Saudi-led coalition air strikes in Yemen at the time The Washington Post reported on the problem, a number which included about 9,000 civilians according to the U.S. news outlet.   

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Almigdad Mojalli/VOA -