Weinberger Indicates He Favors Beefing Up Saudi Arabia’s Arms

— Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger indicated today that he favored improving Saudi Arabia’s armed forces by agreeing to the Saudis’ request to enhance the combat capabilities of the 60 F-15 warplanes they have bought from the U.S. “We want to make them as effective as we can for their purposes,” Weinberger said in response to questions at a press conference.

“They (the Saudis) have a basically difficult defense problem with a long coastline and a small number of forces and immensely valuable resources for the free world, “he said. He added, “We want to do everything we can to assist them in providing the additional security they need.”

The Saudis have asked for additional fuel tanks and bomb racks for their F-15s. The Carter Administration did not send the request to Congress be-

fore it left office. Weinberger and the State Department indicated that the Reagan Administration would make its decision soon.

Israel and its supporters in the U.S. have vehemently opposed the supply of equipment that would increase the range of the Saudi jet fighters. Congressional sources had informed the Carter Administration that enhancing Saudi aircraft would disturb the military balance of power in the Middle East and would pose a threat to Israel.

QUESTIONED ABOUT U.S. TROOPS IN ISRAEL

In another matter related to the Middle East, Weinberger said that he could not conceive of “a serious request” from Israel to station American troops on its soil but “we will certainly examine that kind of question if it is ever raised in a sympathetic viewpoint.” The question was put to the Defense Secretary in light of discussions in the Reagan Administration of an American presence in the Middle East to deter Soviet aggression there.

Weinberger referred to Israel as “a good and strong and important ally” but he did not know if it wanted U.S. troops. “I would be very surprised if it did,” he said. He said the question was “hypothetical” and observed that the response to such a request would depend on “what the host country wants.” He said if it ever arose it would be considered “just as we did with Saudi Arabia when the request was made for the AWACS planes.” The U.S. sent four of the giant communications aircraft to Saudi Arabia, piloted by Americans, to help keep the Saudis informed of developments in the Iraqi-Iranian war.

In another development, it was announced that Sen. John Tower (R. Tex.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, is to leave Friday for London and will then continue on to Bonn and the Middle East where he will visit Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Tunisia. The Bonn government is reportedly considering the sale of 300-600 of its advanced Leopard II tanks to Saudi Arabia, a move that has been questioned by some leading members of the Bundestag and is opposed by Israel.

Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger met with Secretary of State Alexander Haig today to give him an oral report on his visit to the Middle East last month. The State Department refused to discuss their conversation.