U.S. Military Training Mission in Saudi Arabia Set for Five-Year Expansion
The U.S. State Department has issued a confirmation endorsing a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia involving U.S. Security Assistance Office (SAO) support services. This includes technical guidance and advisory aid to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense (MOD) for an additional five years, facilitated through the U.S. Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia (USMTM) based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, along with related equipment at an estimated expenditure of $350 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has provided the essential certification informing Congress of this possible sale on December 1, 2020.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sought U.S. Security Assistance Office (SAO) services that include technical guidance and advisory aid to the Saudi Ministry of Defense (MOD) for a further five years, coordinated through the U.S. Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia (USMTM) situated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The encompass of SAO services includes: compensation and benefits for U.S. Military, U.S. Government, and Foreign National personnel; costs related to USMTM communications support; local contracting expenses; construction and refurbishment costs for housing areas; transportation expenses; U.S. Mail services support costs; educational support for dependents (grades K-12); administrative expenditures; costs for temporary duty of USMTM members; Value Added Taxes (VAT) imposed by Saudi Arabia; prospective costs for transitioning USMTM to a suggested new housing site in Saudi Arabia; and other pertinent elements of logistical and program support. The overall estimated expenditure is $350 million.
This proposed sale aims to bolster the foreign policy aims and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing the security of a friendly nation that serves as a bastion of political stability and economic development in the Middle East.
This proposed sale will further enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to confront existing and emerging threats by leveraging USMTM’s ongoing initiatives to educate, advise, and assist the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces in strengthening defense capacities and capabilities via military exercises and professional military training. USMTM engages in non-combat, institutional guidance that aids the MOD in formulating, training, and maintaining a robust deterrent against regional threats.
The proposed sale of these services and support will not modify the fundamental military equilibrium in the region.
No principal contractor is linked to this proposed sale. There are no known offset agreements in relation to this potential sale.
The implementation of this proposed sale will necessitate the permanent assignment of roughly 330 U.S. Military, U.S. Government, and Foreign National USMTM personnel to Saudi Arabia. Additional Training Advisory Field Teams (TAFT) and Support teams will visit the nation on a temporary basis as needed.
No adverse repercussions on U.S. defense readiness are expected as a consequence of this proposed sale.
This notification regarding a potential sale is mandated by law. The description and financial value provided reflect the highest estimated quantity and fiscal value based on preliminary requirements. The actual monetary value may be less depending on finalized requirements, budget authority, and finalized sales contract(s), if and when executed.
