In a move that is being touted as a peace-keeping and stability-maintaining move on the parts of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, President Donald Trump has announced a $110B arms deal that will send a clear message to members of the Shanghai Cooperative Organization (SCO) to which belong Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the four latter being majority Muslim nations.
Waiting in the wings for full membership are both Pakistan and India, both nuclear capable nations. “Observer States” are listed as Belarus, Mongolia, Iran and Afghanistan, with the last two being Muslim majority nations. There are “Dialogue Partners” listed as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, again with the last two being Muslim majority nations. And finally the “Guest Attendances” of Turkmenistan (also Muslim majority).
Additionally, there are a few other nations interested in the SCO from an economic standpoint, including the largest nation in South America, Brazil, Indonesia in the South China Sea, and most surprisingly, Israel. Pulling in Indonesia closer to its robes, the SCO also strengthens its claim on the whole of the South China Sea which is in high dispute at the current time.
With all of these relatively recent developments, the arms deal between the U.S. and the Saudis appears to be a strategic move aimed at keeping a close checks and balances scrutiny of the region as a whole. The details of the deal are as follows:
The arms deal will see the U.S. providing Saudi Arabia with a “full spectrum of capabilities,” including tanks, artillery, helicopters, armored carriers, combat ships, and an assortment of other advanced weapons systems, according to senior Trump administration officials working on the agreement.
The massive arms package is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to boost U.S. allies in the region amid a growing threat from Iran, which has invested heavily in its own military since the landmark nuclear agreement was inked with the former Obama administration.
A large portion of the cash assets and other financial resources granted to Iran under the deal have been used to purchase advanced weapons and invest in the country’s ballistic missile program, which violates international agreements.
Trump administration officials touted the agreement, which will be officially announced by President Donald Trump on Saturday as he travels across the Middle East on his first foreign trip, as a major step towards countering Iranian intransigence in the region, which has spooked U.S. allies.
The package of arms is specifically meant to address regional threats, officials said.
“This package of defense equipment and services support the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian threats while also bolstering the Kingdom’s ability to contribute to counterterrorism operations across the region, reducing the burden on the U.S. military to conduct those operations,” explained one senior administration official who was only authorized to speak about the agreement on background.
Some officials, upon hearing about this deal, grew concerned that this might throw the balance of power askew in relation to America’s number one ally in the region, Israel.
Trump administration officials also maintained that nothing in the mammoth arms package would negate Israel’s military edge in the region, which remains a cornerstone of the U.S.-Israel alliance.
“I also need to stress that there is nothing in this package of sales, taken individually or as a whole, that will undermine Israel’s qualitative military edge,” one senior official said. “As a matter of law and of longstanding policy, the United States is committed to ensuring Israel maintains a qualitative military edge in the region.”
When completed, the $110 billion agreement with Saudi Arabia will be “the largest single arms deal in American history,” according to officials.
On the whole, the numbers for both the NATO forces and the SCO are evening up. In light of the newest developments in its growing membership, however, the Shanghai alliance may soon become the dominating socioeconomic and military force on the planet, well eclipsing our possibly disintegrating NATO coalition.
Source: The Washington Free Beacon
MORE THAN LIKELY THANKS TO OBAMIE.
ISRAEL is asking that ISIS not be destroyed (because they created ISIS). Israel wants to use ISIS to cleanse the area known as “greater Israel” of all Christians and Muslims.
http://www.salon.com/2016/08/23/israeli-think-tank-dont-destroy-isis-its-a-useful-tool-against-iran-hezbollah-syria/
I’d call it peace through strength and unity
The war is already here.
Setting stage for something making sure our allies . In an apparent prelude to go after ISIS. But could be a ploy and true target will be North Korea
We shall see no war one bomb
Hell no
Obama started isis