Tag

#Saudi-Arabia

Incidents involving Saudi Arabia, including arms sales, military cooperation in Yemen operations, and Saudi involvement in regional conflicts with civilian harm implications.

3 incidents

Updated February 26, 2021 Foreign Policy & War
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Khashoggi Assassination: Trump Defends MBS, Suppresses CIA Findings, Blocks Accountability

Khashoggi, a permanent U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage. He was killed and his body dismembered by a 15-member Saudi team that included members of MBS's personal security detail. Turkish intelligence recorded audio of the killing and shared it with the CIA. The CIA concluded MBS ordered the operation. Trump's November 2018 statement defending Saudi Arabia cited the CIA assessment as uncertain and emphasized arms sales: '$450 billion of jobs, 450 billion dollars.' Trump resisted congressional pressure for Magnitsky Act sanctions against MBS. The administration characterized MBS's culpability as inconclusive despite CIA findings.

Sources
4
KhashoggiMBSSaudi-Arabiafirst-termforeign-policy
Updated February 15, 2019 Foreign Policy & War
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Khashoggi Assassination: Trump Covered for Saudi Crown Prince Despite CIA Conclusion

Khashoggi, a permanent U.S. resident and Washington Post contributor, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain marriage documents and was killed by a Saudi hit squad. Turkish intelligence recordings documented the killing. The CIA assessed with high confidence that MBS had ordered it. Trump's response was to prioritize the Saudi relationship over accountability: he repeatedly questioned the CIA's conclusion, cited a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, and issued an unprecedented presidential statement that effectively exonerated MBS by saying even if he was responsible, the U.S. would stand by Saudi Arabia. A bipartisan Senate resolution holding MBS responsible was passed; Trump threatened to veto related legislation.

Sources
4
KhashoggiSaudi-ArabiaMBSpress-freedomfirst-term
Updated November 16, 2020 Complicity in Genocide
War Crime / Crime Against Humanity

Saudi Arms Deals and Complicity in Yemen War Crimes

Trump's first foreign trip was to Riyadh, where he announced a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. The U.S. continued to provide refueling, intelligence, and targeting support for Saudi-led coalition strikes in Yemen throughout the first term, even as the UN documented mass civilian casualties, attacks on protected sites, and a blockade causing mass starvation. Congress passed resolutions invoking the War Powers Act to end U.S. involvement; Trump vetoed both.

Sources
6
YemenSaudi-Arabiaarms-saleshumanitarian-crisiscomplicity-in-genocide