U.S (Washington Insider Magazine) -One of the most controversial topics in foreign affairs is if the United States selling weapons to foreign countries is a good thing or not, but it could be more complicated than one might think.
Since 2001, 169 countries have purchased weapons from the U.S. Since 2002, the U.S. has delivered $34 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia, which has recently capitalized on receiving these weapons by getting involved in the Yemen War.
While the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy emphasizes avoiding civilian casualties made by American weapons, there have been over 18,000 deaths – over 100,000 from the war in general – since 2015 in Yemen due to American weapons, with 25 percent accounting for children, according to the New York Times.
Saudi Arabia is not the only Middle Eastern country benefiting from American weapons either, as Egypt and Qatar are also the top buyers for the country’s weapons. According to Middle East Eye, 47 percent of U.S. arms exports went to the Middle East between 2016-20, which was a 28 percent increase from the previous five years.
In February, President Joe Biden froze any sales to Saudi Arabia, which some say was a good call, along with wanting all sales to the Middle East to be revoked. The Trump Administration, however, disagrees.
During his presidency, Trump said the sales to foreign countries create thousands of jobs, improve the economy, and add wealth for the U.S. It makes sense too, as the U.S. has made billions of dollars from Middle Eastern sales alone.
Opposers also argued that selling these weapons were a tool for strengthening the military of allies, according to National Interest. While this also makes sense, the U.S. still sold weapons to 62 countries that were not its ally. National Interest also mentioned the U.S. has sold over $75 billion in weapons to non-allies over the years.
As National Interest pointed out, stopping sales with the countries that are not allies to the U.S. would be a big step in making it more ok to sell weapons for economic reasons.
