CNN reported on Thursday that US intelligence agencies have concluded Saudi Arabia is now actively manufacturing its own ballistic missiles with the help of China.
As the world’s largest importer of arms, Saudi Arabia has purchased ballistic missiles from China in the past but has not previously had the ability to manufacture them.
Unnamed sources told CNN that US officials at several agencies have been briefed in recent months on “on classified intelligence revealing multiple large-scale transfers of sensitive ballistic missile technology between China and Saudi Arabia.”
In a statement to CNN, China’s Foreign Ministry said the two countries are “comprehensive strategic partners” and “have maintained friendly cooperation in all fields, including in the field of military trade.”
“Such cooperation does not violate any international law and does not involve the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” the statement said.
Saudi Arabia is entirely reliant on the US to continue waging war in Yemen. While the US is still supporting the war, there have been efforts in Congress to cut off arms sales to Riyadh, which likely motivated the Saudis to look elsewhere for weapons.
The US has not been happy about the relationship between China and other Middle East allies. The UAE recently threatened to pull out of a $25 billion arms deal that includes F-35 fighter jets over security requirements the US wants in order to protect the technology from China. The US has also repeatedly warned Israel against doing business with China.
.. or someone wants us to think that.
“Such cooperation does not violate any international law and does not involve the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” the statement said.
You mean the USA REALLY cares about international law or the people of Yemen? (Only 377000 dead there so far with the help of the Saudis, UK/USA.)
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Watah ballistic missile base is fully developed, and is 800 miles from Tel Aviv, 900 miles from Tehran. Those missiles are DF-3 intermediate-range ballistic missiles (3,300 km range) that Saudi Arabia reportedly acquired from China starting in the 1980s. They are designed for a nuclear warhead, and of course combatable with the Pakistani warheads whose development was guided by China and paid for in large part by the Saudis.
They can also loft 2,000 lb conventional warheads, but that is a dual use not their designed purpose.
The Pakistani started their missile program with deliveries from China of nuclear capable missiles, the M-11 and DF-2, the generation before the DF-3 now being made by Saudi Arabia. Design drawings for the Saudis DF-3 missiles ought to work just fine with whatever warheads they might have delivered from Pakistan.
So the poor USA is not the only source of war and WMD???? How sad.