China-Iraq Ties: Oil, Arms, and Influence

06/25/2012
6/25/12: By Richard Weitz Sino-Iraq relations will likely continue to strengthen in the near future. China, which imports more than half its oil, needs Iraqi energy, while Iraq, which continues to suffer from sectarian violence and an unstable political environment, depends heavily on China’s willingness to invest in the country…

Saudi Arms Deal Fortifies US Regional Security Ties

01/08/2012
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="150" caption=" "][/caption] By Dr. Richard Weitz 01/08/2011 - The U.S. Government’s Conventional Arms Transfer Policy requires that major sales advance U.S. national interests, are consistent with the recipient country’s legitimate security needs, and support U.S. regional security objectives. The sales to Saudi Arabia are widely supported…

Saudi Arms Deal offers Boeing Military Aviation a Lifeline

01/03/2012
01/03/2012 by Richard Weitz On December 29, the Obama administration announced that the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have finalized the deal to provide advanced F-15SA combat aircraft to the Royal Saudi Air Force.  The sale has gained widespread support within the U.S. defense community and will…

Russia’s Arms Sales to India Under Threat

12/19/2011
[caption id="attachment_12920" align="alignleft" width="150" caption=" "][/caption] By Dr. Richard Weitz 12/19/2011 - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh just left Moscow after meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev at the Kremlin for the 12th Indo-Russian Summit. Much of the Russian-Indian discussions during Singh’s three-day visit concerned Russian weapons sales to India. For…

Evaluating the Proposed Saudi Arabian Arms Deal

10/16/2010
By Dr. Richard Weitz 10/16 /2010 - The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency is expected to confirm soon an estimated $60 billion U.S. arms deal with Saudi Arabia. The unstated but widely understood purpose of the sale, which has been under discussion since 2007, is to enhance the Kingdom’s ability…

Crafting Relevant Capabilities

10/16/2010
Arms Sales a Necessary, But Not Sufficient Condition for Enhanced Deterrence By Dr. Robbin Laird 10/16 /2010 - Richard Weitz’s review and assessment of the proposed Saudi arms sale discusses some of the platforms on offer, which could go with what the Saudis already have in the inventory.  Platforms are…