U.S. Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia

Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D. Wisconsin) stated here that recent reports about a Saudi Arabian-United States Security Commission plan to strengthen the Saudi army “dramatized the need for broader review of U.S. arms sales policy.” In a statement that he issued to the House-Senate Conference Committee several days ago while it was considering the Foreign Aid Bill, Nelson quoted the reports as indicating that the U.S. has developed a secret plan to double and possibly triple the flow of American arms to Saudi Arabia.

The reports, he said, describe a multi-billion dollar plan involving the mechanization of the Saudi army into a mobile striking force with some 440 helicopters, a major expansion of the Saudi navy, and the possible shipment of F-4 fighters, the mainstay of the Israeli Air Force. Nelson, who authored a provision of the Foreign Aid Bill to give Congress greater control of sales of military hardware and services to other nations–a practice now wholly controlled by the Administration through the Defense and State Departments– stated that reports indicate that the State Department has recommended U.S. arms transfers to the Saudis to equip the following forces:

Four mechanized brigades, each with three mechanized infantry battalions; a tank battalion, and “other combat and service support elements”; an aviation group headquarters with two assault helicopter battalions; one attack helicopter battalion; and two air cavalry battalions and two assault support helicopter companies. The State Department has neither confirmed not denied this plan, Nelson said.

“Meanwhile,” Nelson said, “we also are selling arms to Iran, the non-Arab power located across the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia.” He noted that Iran bought $2 billion worth of weapons in 1973 and another $3.5 billion worth in fiscal 1974. “How much are we involving ourselves militarily in this area as a result of sales like these?” Nelson asked. He recalled that under a 1959 agreement “the U.S. is committed to “take such appropriate action, including the use of armed forces, as may be mutually agreed upon’ to protect Iran.”

Nelson’s legislation forces the Administration to tell Congress about individual arms sales contracts of $25 million or more. The Administration would have to submit to Congress its sales plans and Congress would have 30 days in which to make a policy decision to prohibit the sale if it wished. The amendment also requires all arms sales to be reported to Congress quarterly.