• Press Release

Saudi Arms Deal Must Be Halted After Failed Senate Vote

September 21, 2016

MEDIA CONTACT: Mandy Simon, [email protected]

(NEW YORK, NY) – A resolution to block the latest arms sale to Saudi Arabia by the Obama administration failed in the Senate today. The effort was meant to stop a deal which would provide the Government of Saudi Arabia with  $1.15 billion in tanks, military vehicles, and related equipment and services. In late 2015, the Obama administration previously sold over $1 billion in bombs and related parts to Saudi Arabia.

Ahead of today’s vote, 64 Members of Congress urged President Obama in a letter to the White House to postpone the latest arms sale so that the U.S. Congress could properly debate the issue. Amnesty International USA’s Board of Directors also sent President Obama a letter this month urging him to cancel the arms deal.

“Today’s vote is the latest example of the growing voice of dissent in Congress when it comes to the United States’ selling arms to Saudi Arabia,” said Sunjeev Bery, Amnesty International USA Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “U.S. officials know that the Saudi government continues dropping bombs on civilian communities and yet the Obama Administration continues selling it weapons. This arms deal is bad for the people of Yemen, bad for the region and bad for U.S. foreign policy. President Obama should cancel it immediately.”

The letter to President Obama from Amnesty International USA’s board of directors is here: https://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/Amnesty_International_letter__SaudiArabia_arms_sale-2016-09-09.pdf