An Investigation of the Scope, Purpose, and Effects of United States Foreign Military Sales to Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
The United States Security Assistance Program has grown rapidly in the 1970s and Saudi Arabia has been an integral part of the growth. By 1976 Saudi Arabia became the largest purchaser of U.S. arms and equipment worldwide. The research analyzes the purposes and effects of U.S. foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia against a background which includes (1) the history of the U.S.-Saudi military supply relationship; (2) the economic, political, social, military and strategic environment of Saudi Arabia; and (3) the U.S. foreign military sales programs to Saudi Arabia. The background which is discussed in some depth provides essential information for analyzing U.S. FMS to Saudi Arabia. The analysis reveals that despite an intricate and comprehensive arms transfer criteria, the United States evaluates primarily two considerations in making arms transfers to Saudi Arabia--the military balance of power in the Middle East region and the economic effects of arms transfers on the Saudi economy. The authors' net assessment is, that in light of these two criteria, arms transfers are justified and purposeful and exert a positive effect on Saudi Arabia. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA047435
Entities
People
- Billy L. Dycus
- Joseph A. Fiorillo Jr
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology