According to reports, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. President Trump finalized a new $12.5 billon arms deal in a meeting today at the White House. Raed Jarrar, advocacy director of Middle East North Africa at Amnesty International USA, issued this statement:
“By finalizing weapons deals worth billions of dollars with the government of Saudi Arabia, the Trump administration puts the U.S. at risk of being complicit in war crimes committed in Yemen. Arms manufactured in the United States have already been used in strikes against civilians, including one that killed the family of a five-year-old girl.
“The Trump administration must stop supplying arms to the Saudi-led coalition. U.S. weapon manufacturers must also ensure that their munitions will not be involved in violations of international law. Amnesty will continue to work with Congress to block these deals.”