US Congress to review $60bn Saudi deal

The administration of US President Barack Obama is set to notify Congress of a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia, which is worth up to $60 billion.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Monday, the White House will authorize the purchase of as many as 84 new F-15 fighters and three types of helicopters — 70 Apaches, 72 Black Hawks and 36 Little Birds — by the Saudis.

This is considered to be the largest US arms deal ever.

Washington is also holding talks with the kingdom about potential naval and missile system upgrades that could be worth an additional tens of billions of dollars, the newspaper said.

Saudi Arabia has already spent some $37 billion on arms between 2001 and 2008.

The multi-billion-dollar deal is expected to be submitted to Congress either this week or next week.

The notification will set off a congressional review. However, no major obstacles or changes are likely to threaten the pact.

The United States has long been seeking to build up missile systems across the Persian Gulf region.

Analysts say the US deals struck with Arab countries in the Persian Gulf are aimed at countering Iran’s growing influence in the region.