Blumenthal & Khanna Announce Bicameral Legislation to Stop U.S. Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) announced the introduction of bicameral legislation to stop U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The announced legislation comes after Saudi Arabia sided with Russia to cut oil production at last week’s OPEC+ meeting, supporting Russia in its brutal war against Ukraine and undermining global oil supply.

“This simple yet urgent measure would halt U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia after their deeply offensive, destructive blunder: siding with Russia at this historic moment. Saudis must reverse their oil supply cuts, which aid and abet Russia’s savage criminal invasion, endanger the world economy, and threaten higher gas prices at U.S. pumps. We cannot continue selling highly sensitive arms technology to a nation aligned with an abhorrent terrorist adversary,” said Blumenthal. “I’m proud to sponsor this bicameral legislation to send a strong message to the Saudis as our country works to rebalance this one-sided relationship. I urge my colleagues to support this essential bill and will fight for its swift passage.”  

“Saudi Arabia’s disastrous decision to slash oil production by two million barrels a day makes it clear that Riyadh is seeking to harm the U.S. and reaffirms the need to reassess the U.S.-Saudi relationship. There is no reason for the U.S. to kowtow to a regime that has massacred countless civilians in Yemen, hacked to death a Washington-based journalist, and is now extorting Americans at the pump,” said Khanna. “My bill with Senator Blumenthal to halt U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia will force MBS to reconsider his efforts to jack up global oil prices. There must be consequences for fleecing the American people in order to support Putin’s unconscionable war.”

The legislation announced by Blumenthal and Khanna would immediately pause all U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, including military supplies, sales, and other weapons aid to the country. The measure provides for a one-year halt to all direct commercial sales and foreign military sales of weapons and munitions to Saudi Arabia. This includes a halt to sales of spare and repair parts, support services, and logistical as well as program support.

The text of the Senate legislation, introduced today, can be found here. The House will soon introduce its version of the legislation. 

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