As US stockpiles dwindle, Trump rushes weapons to Israel, Saudi — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Trump administration approved a $5 billion military sale to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, including 5,000 2,000-pound bombs, and is readying a separate $2.8 billion package of roughly 40,000 2,000-pound bombs for Israel
- The Israel package eclipses previous 2,000-pound munition sales, including a controversial $2.04 billion 2025 deal that bypassed normal congressional review, and will reportedly be funded using U.S. taxpayer dollars
- Government watchdogs have warned about dwindling U.S. stockpiles of major weapons systems, adding fresh demand to production lines already straining to keep pace
- Congress will have 30 days to review the Saudi deal and 15 days for the Israel agreement once formally notified; any senator can force a vote on either via a joint resolution of disapproval
- 36 Democratic senators backed a resolution earlier this year aimed at blocking a $150 million sale of 1,000-pound bombs to Israel, a number that has steadily climbed since the Gaza war began in 2023
- Tucker Carlson posted on X that an 'informed federal official' told him the transfer had 'no precedent' in size and warned the 40,000 bombs would 'extend the Iran war into the indefinite future'
- Netanyahu benefits politically from the timing: with Israeli elections a month away, the package functions as a 'scalp' showing what he got the Americans to deliver, a senior Democratic Senate staffer told the outlet
Why it matters: Congress has a 30-day review window on the $5 billion Saudi deal and a 15-day window on the $2.8 billion Israel package. With 36 Democratic senators already on record opposing prior arms transfers and even right-wing figure Tucker Carlson calling the Israel deal unprecedented, both packages face unusual bipartisan friction over weapons policy.
Ask SkimNews
