Colin Demarest
An Abrams tank with the 1st Cavalry Division at the National Training Center in November. Photo: Tyler Williams/DVIDS
Saudi Arabia committed to buying hundreds of U.S.-made tanks, part of a larger spending-and-security conversation between the two countries, the White House said.
Why it matters: It's a massive, long-term commitment — and one that appears to shrug off doubts regarding the tank's role on the battlefield of the future.
Driving the news: The Trump administration on Tuesday announced a slew of deals with Riyadh following consultations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.The arrangement for "nearly" 300 tanks, in particular, will enable "Saudi Arabia to build up its own defense capabilities" while "safeguarding hundreds of American jobs," it said.
Zoom in: General Dynamics Land Systems makes the Abrams main battle tank. It's used by the U.S. Army and has been adopted overseas, including by Ukraine.A company spokesperson referred questions about the plan to the State Department.
Zoom out: MBS earlier in the day told President Trump that Saudi Arabia would raise its stateside investments to $1 trillion, up from $600 billion.
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