United States approves sale of $1.3 billion in artillery to Saudi Arabia

The Trump administration on Thursday approved a contract to sell about $1.3 billion in artillery to Saudi Arabia as young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman concludes a marathon tour of the United States (US).

According to the US State Department, the sale package contained about 180 Paladin medium self-propelled howitzer systems and the artillery-firing vehicles launch 155mm shells, reported China's state-run news agency Xinhua.

U.S. lawmakers will have a window of 30 days, should they choose to act if they want to stop the latest sale.

The move came as visiting Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's visit is coming to the end of a three-week US tour

After stops in Washington, New York and Boston, the crown prince has spent this week on the West Coast meeting with prominent business and entertainment leaders. He plans a final stop in the energy hub of Houston on Saturday before returning to Saudi Arabia, according to the reports.

When US President Donald Trump visited Riyadh last year he boasted that Saudi Arabia would spend $110 billion on US military equipment.

The $1.3 billion in artillery and $1 billion in missiles announced during Prince Mohammed's visit are reportedly both part of that broader package.

--ANI