CAIRO: The United States is preparing a 10-year arms package for Saudi Arabia as well as increasing military aid to Israel, all as part of a process to counter the regional influence of Iran, the press reported.
The Saudi package is estimated to be worth $20 billion over 10 years. Part of it includes new weapons for the United Arab Emirates, as well as military support for Egypt.
“Iran has come to the fore in its hegemony on that part of the region, expert on Gulf Affairs at the Diplomatic Center Ashraf Keshk told Daily News Egypt, “so the US had to react to that.
“Large parts of Iraq are under Iranian control now, he added. “The US resorted to arming the Gulf after it failed to create an axis of moderate Sunni states which would successfully counter Iran.
Additionally, the US has raised its military aid to Israel by 25 percent, with a new deal which totals $30 billion over 10 years. Previously, Israel received $2.4 billion annually in US military aid.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his cabinet Sunday, “We understand the United States desire to help moderate states which stand at a united front with the United States and Israel in the struggle against Iran.
However, “Other than the increase in aid, we received an explicit and detailed commitment to guarantee Israel s qualitative advantage over other Arab states, Olmert added.
“Arms deals between the Gulf and the US come within the scope of a military agreement set after the invasion of Kuwait, Keshk said. “However the size of the package displays many things.
“After the US invasion of Iraq, there is an imbalance in the power structure of the region, he added.
Israel’s reaction to the Saudi package has been cautiously welcoming.
Olmert s spokeswoman Miri Eisin told AFP on Sunday, “We have no doubt that the United States would not do anything that could endanger the security of Israel.
Eisin added that Saudi Arabia is a “moderate Arab country engaged in the fight against terrorism in its own country. Saudi Arabia also supports a peace initiative with Israel and we hope that it will play a more active role to encourage negotiations.
Keshk pointed out that there may be internal repercussions for the arms deal, especially concerning the cost of the deals which is prohibitive and is opposed by some people in the Gulf.
“There is internal dissent at the high cost of arms purchases in Bahrain and Kuwait. Gulf military spending totals 65 percent of total Arab spending, and 5 percent of the entire world, he said.
