The US military is working on developing a new testing facility in Saudi Arabia, NBC News reported Wednesday, citing three Pentagon officials familiar with the plans.
The exact location of the new military facility hasn’t been decided on, but it will be called the Red Sands Integrated Experimentation Center, a similar name to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The facility will develop and test integrated air defense systems as the US is looking to foster Israeli-Arab military cooperation in that area. “With the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the center of gravity for many future regional security endeavors, this is an opportunity,” a Pentagon official told NBC.
Pentagon officials said that there is not yet a firm deadline on when Red Sands can begin operations, and it likely won’t happen before the end of this year. It’s not clear how much the facility will cost. The US is exploring a plan where it will pay 20% of the costs and provide 20% of the personnel while allies make up the rest.
The plan comes as Israel is looking to build a US-backed anti-Iran alliance in the region with Washington’s Arab allies. Israel has stepped up military cooperation with the UAE and Bahrain since signing normalization deals with the two Gulf states at the end of 2020.
The US has fewer resources dedicated to the Middle East now that it is focusing on confronting Russia and China. While the US still has a military presence in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, the number of troops assigned to US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the region, dropped from more than 80,000 in 2020 to about 35,000 now.
As the US is focusing resources elsewhere, a NATO-style alliance consisting of Israel and Washington’s Arab allies could help the US maintain control and influence in the region.
Is this the best we can do post the fall of Communism? Up the ante, develop more sophisticated lethal weaspons, squander national treasuries on crap that is destroyed on use? Spare nary a glance for the human suffering which will go on for decades? Destroy infrastructure. On and on. Everyone still loves to hate on Trump — but at least he had ideas about trying different things. The old ideas are not working. With all our advanced stuff, “better” morality, compassion — can’t something new be tried? But no: WE CAN’T NEGOTIATE. BECAUSE MY P***S IS BIGGER THAN YOURS.
“hate on trump” right. Perhaps you could name a president, or any other politician that is not “hated on” ? Today, you win an election, and a third of the people are against you. Spare me the “victim trump” , it goes with the territory. Then, give me an example of an idea of his that were different. I kinda liked the nuking hurricanes, and buying Greenland tho. Entertainment like we enjoy.
You missed Donald’s “morality and compassion”?
Remember the US economy is now a war Economy , their biggest export now is DEATH , DESTRUCTION , & CHAOS , America cannot afford to be on friendly terms with Countries like Russia , China , Iran ect ect it needs enemies to fuel the M.I.C .
Somebody is fantasizing, Prediction: It will never happen. Nice try. Saudi Arabia of its own free will applied and was accepted into Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), oon an entry, partner level. Organization in which Iran is now one of nine states with decision making powers. And it will not be too ling before Iran-Saudi relatiins are restored. Anything related to Israel is toxic in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is not — I repeat not — accept any projects that are specifically directed against another SCO country. Those rules Saudis signed upon applying for SCO.
The Saud family should contemplate these famous last words: “We’re here to help you.”
I wonder if they will be testing 2C if they can teach them make steep descent’s like flight the 1 that hit the Pentagon on the morning on the 11th day of September in 2001… Are the Saudis America’s friends or attackers…??? Who”s idea was it to cozy up to them….?????
“the number of troops assigned to US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the region, dropped from more than 80,000 in 2020 to about 35,000 now”
Doesn’t matter. Making Israel part of “central command” mattered more.
He means Israel.
If you are the company that you keep, then the United States government is Al-Qaeda. Way to fight autocracy, Joe.