Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shakes hands with President Trump during a photo session at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, last month. The Trump administration announced in May that it would invoke emergency authority to push through 22 deals worth more than $8 billion, sales that include missiles, munitions and surveillance aircraft. Members of both parties also object to the idea of rewarding Saudi leaders at a time when most lawmakers want to punish them for the killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Trump administration has insisted that the weapons sales are necessary to counter an increasing threat from Iran, which is suspected in attacks on petrochemical tankers in recent weeks and shot down a U.S. Navy surveillance drone. “It will give Republicans cover to say they did something on Saudi Arabia, they did something on the Khashoggi murder, but without much consequence whatsoever,” Menendez said.

Source: Washington Post July 17, 2019 21:56 UTC