Arms Sales Notifications
Floor Speech
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Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
The Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 24-12, concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense services estimated to cost $250 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Sincerely, James A. Hursch, Director.
Enclosures. transmittal no. 24-12 Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0 million.
Other $250 million.
Total $250 million.
Funding Source: National Funds
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case SR-P-TDD was below congressional notification threshold at $37 million ($0 in Major Defense Equipment (MDE)) and included blanket order training for Royal Saudi Naval Forces. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested the case be amended to increase funding to allow continued training. This amendment will push the current case above the notification threshold and thus requires notification of the entire case.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None
Non-MDE: Included is precision targeting, collateral damage reduction, core technical and professional development training, ship repair facility maintainer and language proficiency courses, and professional military education provided by the U.S. Navy.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (SR-P-TDD).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: SR-P-TCY.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: April 30, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. policy justification Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--Blanket Order Training
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy additional blanket order training for Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $37 million ($0 in Major Defense Equipment (MDE)), included blanket order training for the RSNF, including: precision targeting, collateral damage reduction, core technical and professional development training, ship repair facility maintainer and language proficiency courses, and professional military education provided by the U.S. Navy. This notification is for the entire blanket order training with an estimated total cost of $250 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region.
The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ability to defend itself against regional malign actors, support U.S. Navy efforts to enforce freedom of navigation, and improve interoperability with systems operated by U.S. forces and other Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these services into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor(s) will be determined after contract competition and award. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
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