The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been exposed for repeatedly failing to pay the Defense Department for its support in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The Intercept’s investigation revealed that the unpaid bill amounts to $15 million, which is the remaining balance of a $300 million bill for aerial refueling missions. The Pentagon has been avoiding The Intercept’s requests for comment on the matter.
Senator Rand Paul, a long-time critic of U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, condemned the kingdom, its leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Pentagon for their actions. He stated that the war in Yemen, which caused immense suffering and loss of life, was made possible with American support. Paul criticized Saudi Arabia’s failure to reimburse American taxpayers for refueling its warplanes and called the government’s lack of transparency a national disgrace.
Paul has been vocal about his opposition to U.S. support for the Saudi war in Yemen. In 2019, he joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging President Donald Trump to end U.S. support for the conflict. He has also attempted to block the sale of advanced military technologies to Saudi Arabia.
Despite the unpaid debt, the Biden administration recently lifted its ban on selling offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. The administration authorized an initial shipment of air-to-ground munitions to the kingdom, while sales of defensive arms and military services continue. Over the past four years, these sales have amounted to nearly $10 billion.
The Biden administration’s decision to embrace Saudi Arabia comes at a time when new questions have been raised about the kingdom’s role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The administration had imposed the offensive weapons ban in 2021 due to the war in Yemen, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 377,000 people, including thousands of civilians in Saudi-coalition airstrikes. Despite a truce in 2022, more than half of Yemen’s population still requires humanitarian assistance.
A report by the Government Accountability Office revealed that coalition airstrikes in Yemen killed or injured over 18,000 civilians between March 2015 and August 2021. The report also highlighted the failure of the Pentagon and the State Department to investigate the role of U.S.-provided military support in causing these casualties.
The Intercept has repeatedly reached out to the Pentagon to inquire about Saudi Arabia’s payment of its remaining aerial refueling bill. However, the Defense Department has ignored these inquiries and has not provided any response. The State Department also acknowledged receiving questions about the resumption of weapons transfers to Saudi Arabia but did not provide any answers.
The article concludes by highlighting Senator Rand Paul’s criticism of the U.S. government’s support for Saudi Arabia as a national disgrace. The Intercept’s investigation sheds light on the unpaid debt owed by Saudi Arabia and raises concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the relationship between the two countries.