Saudi Arabia has a shiny and very expensive make-believe army with Western weapons that is for make-believe and for show to the world and to purchase American politicians and arms makers.
Its REAL army is its religion and its jihadis. When it needs something done in the broader world, or wants to make a diplomatic point, Saudi sends them.
“purchase American politicians and arms makers”
Actually, I suggest you have that backwards. IMHO.
US international arms sales (FMS) are severely restricted by the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA), section 505, and the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), section 3 (22 U.S.C. 2753) and section 4 (22 U.S.C. 2754). Additional controls are defined in countless other policy manuals and service-specific instructions, as well as mandated in the sales contract—LOA.
Why we do FMS:
1. “Access.” The sale of FMS kit and/or capability requires political access to a country’s leadership. Before a FMS sale may proceed, political considerations affecting the current and forecast geo-political environment takes place. If a country decides to establish ties and/or expand relations with the US, then FMS is an excellent way forward to accomplish this goal. Purchasing US military gear is a highly visible political-military step that is noticed world-wide. An FMS sale therefore needs to initially be explored at the highest-level of government—US and the customer country. During initial FMS discussions through delivery and follow-on support, political and military relationships are developed and trust established. Additionally, a “total package approach” (TPA) to FMS is agreed and this ensures long-term political, military and physical access to the country as the program is introduced, activated, maintained and upgraded.
2. “Influence.” FMS expands ties and strengthens ties between the US and the customer country (“Small nations when treated as equals become the firmest of allies” ). These closer ties and stronger relations allows the US to exercise greater influence though political, military and physical means.
Additionally, International Military Education and Training (IMET), is one such avenue of influence. Through IMET, foreign political and military customers attend service school and learn about human rights, civilian control over the military, among other Western attributes, consequently, foreign servicemen are influenced and shaped by US values and traditions.
Influence may also be exercised by suspending deliveries, withholding technical and training support and retaining payments made by the customer (no refunds) if the customer country behaves in a manner that violates the terms and conditions of the FMS contract or act counter to US national security interests.
In addition to the suspension of deliveries, termination of technical and training support will result in US-supplied products grinding to a halt, as military kit requires a high level of maintenance and support, as well as constant training to remain proficient.
3. “Infrastructure,” a vastly important aspect of the US international arms business. Today, the US engages in FMS as a way to keep the defense industry alive. Most NDAA expenditures are for maintenance, modifications, upgrades and personnel. Consequently, new product manufacturing and research and development are limited in scope. This threatens the defense industrial manufacturing base. With FMS, research and development continues and the defense industry remains viable and productive.
The US defense industry and the US government work to ensure they operate within the law, as oversight and reporting requirements are many and in plain view (except for classified programs, they come under different laws and reporting requirements and are beyond the scope of this proposed research effort).
Basically, access, influence and infrastructure are the benefits of FMS programs.
We can’t overlook Trumps contact with the Ukraine, as he has a DUTY to review ALL FMS countries, too include the Ukraine, to ensure the kit and training are in accordance with the law. Trump would have been in violation if he DID NOT check on the Ukraine because of the well-known corruption that was underfoot.