US discussing lifting weapon sale ban to Saudi Arabia

The Biden administration is discussing the possible lifting of its ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, but any final decision is expected to hinge on whether Riyadh makes progress toward ending the war in neighbouring Yemen, according to four people familiar with the matter.

President Joe Biden is due to visit the kingdom this week, reports Al Jazeera.

Biden’s approach to selling Riyadh arms has softened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March, which prompted the United States and other Western countries to appeal to Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, to pump more oil to offset loss of Russian supplies.