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MetaculusMAR 11
US Approves $100M Precision Weapon Sale to Saudi Arabia
Above: The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 27, 2025. Image copyright: Jen Golbeck/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
The proposed sale will enhance Saudi Arabia's ability to counter current and future threats like the terrorit Houthis while enabling precision targeting with minimal collateral damage. The deal reflects the Trump administration's leadership in reinforcing a vital security partnership in the Gulf region that promotes political stability and economic progress.
Anti-Trump narrative
While Trump likes to portray himself as a "peacemaker," the arms sale is the most recent and alarming development in impulsive US foreign policy that could lead to an escalation of regional tensions and exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where millions of people are already suffering the devastating effects of the conflict.