WASHINGTON –
The United States and Saudi Arabia are close to a final agreement on a bilateral defense pact after the US national security adviser made significant progress in talks with the Saudis over the weekend, the White House said.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the two sides are “closer than ever before” on a bilateral agreement that is now “nearly final.”
U.S. and Saudi negotiators are trying to complete work on a bilateral deal, which is expected to call for formal U.S. guarantees to defend the kingdom, as well as Saudi access to more advanced U.S. weapons, in exchange for halting Chinese arms purchases and limiting Beijing’s investments in the country.
