Carter Administration officials are preparing to sell Saudi Arabia “a considerable amount” of additional military equipment but they will not provide some of the “accessories” that the Saudis have indicated they want, it was learned here today.
According to informed sources, the Administration has made known that it would be “difficult” to fulfill Saudi Arabia’s specific requests. These include equipment for the mid-air refueling of F-15 warplanes which would give them added range; multiple ejection rocks that would increase the F-15’s attack payload; and the special “Awacs” aircraft with advanced radar that could be used as a “command plane” for F-15 squadrons. The U.S. is providing F-15s, one of its most sophisticated combat aircraft, to the Saudis.
Since Saudi Arabia is a principal supplier of oil to the U.S., the Administration is seeking appropriate language to inform the Saudis just what weaponry it will be possible to provide of this time. First reports of new weapons sales to Saudi Arabia — which has bought billions of dollars of military equipment from the U.S. over the last five years — indicated that a program of the magnitude desired by the Saudis would run into strong opposition from friends of Israel in Congress and would not be feasible during the presidential election campaign.
But, while Israel in principle is opposed to supplying Saudi Arabia with military equipment in excess of its perceived defense needs, there has been no sign by Israelis here or by anyone in Congress of opposition to the latest military sales program for the Saudis.
SEEKING TO AVOID ANOTHER IRON
It appears, however, that Congress and the Administration itself are concerned that the U.S. should not put itself in the position that it was in Iron before the downfall of the Shah, which could lead to the danger of weapons provided to Saudi Arabia falling into the hands of hostile forces.
This concern is predicated on signs of disintegration of the ruling family in Saudi Arabia. President Anwar Sadat of Egypt publicly forecast turmoil in several Mideastern countries in the coming months when he was in Washington two weeks ago.
Saudi Arabian sources, in discussing this matter, noted that when National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski was in Saudi Arabia last January, he stressed that the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan threatened the stability of the Persian Gulf region and sought Saudi support for U.S. plans to block further Soviet penetration of the region. The Saudis now point out that the U.S. seems unwilling to give them what they need for their national defense. In no case, however, has any indication been given as to which country or countries the Saudis are preparing against.
PURPOSE OF WEIZMAN’S VISIT
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman will meet with Defense Secretary Harold Brown at the White House on April 28 to discuss the production in Israel of a new warplane powered by General Electric engines. Israeli sources have denied that there was any other purpose to his visit. It had been indicated earlier that Weizman was to suggest that the U.S. utilize Israeli facilities to help offset Soviet penetration of the Middle East.
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