Inside the New Billion Dollar Deal the US Made With the Royal Saudi Air Force

In the vast, volatile deserts of the Middle East, a billion-dollar beacon has been lit by the United States, casting a long shadow over the shifting sands of regional power.

The Pentagon, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to inject a hefty dose of American military might and money into the veins of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), crafting a $1 billion deal that reads like a warlord’s wish list.

A Full-Throttle Military Makeover

This isn’t just any training package; it’s a full-throttle, high-octane boost to the RSAF’s muscle and mind.

We’re talking about flight training that would make Icarus jealous, technical tutelage that borders on the arcane, and a deep dive into the dark arts of military strategy.

"Bloomberg":

The United States approves the sale of a new military training program to #SaudiArabia worth one billion dollars. 🇸🇦🇺🇸

– The deal includes aviation and technical field training, professional military education, along with equipment for the Royal Saudi Air Force and… https://t.co/o2cmv9fy9b

— Ibrahim Al Bloushy | إبراهيم البلوشي (@IbrahimBloushy) December 25, 2023

The Saudis aren’t just learning how to fly; they’re being schooled in the subtle science of aerial supremacy.

For those who are curious, here’s the rundown on the Pentagon’s $1 billion bonanza for the RSAF and its cohorts, including but not limited to:

“[…] flight training; technical training; professional military education; specialized training; Mobile Training Teams (MTTs); Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT); Extended Training Service Specialists (ETSS); and English language training,” the sale document read.

Furthermore, other relevant training includes “subjects such as civilian casualty avoidance; the laws of armed conflicts; human rights; command and control; and targeting via MTTs and/or broader Programs of Instruction (POIs). Program management; trainers, simulators; travel; billeting; and medical support may also be included.”

But let’s cut through the military jargon and see this for what it really is: a high-stakes gamble in a game where the chips are human lives and regional stability.

The Saudis will be getting a crash course in everything from evading radar to dropping bombs with a surgeon’s precision.

And let’s not forget the softer side of this brutal business: lessons in avoiding civilian casualties and the laws of war.

It’s like teaching a shark to swim gently and then trusting the shark to do so.

The Geopolitical Chess Game

Now, this isn’t happening in a vacuum.

The Middle East is a chessboard of tension, with each move sparking a potential chain reaction of chaos.

By beefing up the RSAF, Uncle Sam is sending a clear message: Saudi Arabia is his knight in shining armor in this oil-drenched Game of Thrones.

The US approved $1 billion in military training for Saudi Arabia, renewing a program that’s deepened ties between the two partners https://t.co/zSbScrn97B

— Bloomberg (@business) December 22, 2023

But remember, even knights can go rogue.

The State Department, with its usual flair for understatement, says this is all about “regional stability.”

But those of us who’ve seen the beast of war up close know better.

This is about power, influence, and keeping the kingdom’s enemies at bay with a show of force that would make Mars himself blush.

The Yemeni Equation

And let’s not forget the elephant in the room: the Yemeni conflict, a quagmire of pain and politics.

The Saudis have been playing a dangerous game there, but they’ve been on their best behavior lately, adhering to a US-brokered truce.

Maybe, just maybe, this billion-dollar carrot will keep them on the straight and narrow.

“The Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours, returning these cases to regular order through appropriate congressional notification and consultation,” a US official privy to the matter told Reuters in an exclusive July last year.

The Business of War

But here’s the thing: war is a business, and business is booming.

The US isn’t just training allies; it’s investing in its own influence.

And in the murky world of arms deals and shifting alliances, that’s the name of the game.

So, as the RSAF’s pilots strap into their newly polished cockpits and the desert skies thunder with the roar of American-made jets, remember this: in the grand bazaar of war, every sale has a price, and every alliance has an expiration date.

But for now, the dance of diplomacy and destruction continues, with the Middle East as its ballroom and the world watching, waiting, and wondering what comes next.

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