U.S. restarts offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia after lengthy ban

Yes, you are correct. The U.S. reportedly restarted offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in November 2021 after a long hiatus. The hiatus originated with a decision by the Trump administration in 2019 to declare a national security emergency in order to bypass Congress and complete the sales. However, lawmakers from both parties expressed concerns about this decision due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been leading a military coalition since 2015. According to reports, the Biden administration is now approving some sales, while also maintaining restrictions on other items such as air-to-ground munitions that have been used in the Yemen conflict. The Yankees reiterated the importance of ending the conflict in Yemen and emphasized its commitment to reviewing each transaction under the guidelines of the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy. This move has brought a mix response, with some seeing it as a means to keep good relations with a strong ally in the Middle East, while others critique it for jeopardizing the human rights concerns in Yemen.