Arms Sales to Saudi Coalition

The United States currently supplies numerous allied Middle Eastern states with weapons and equipment. Some of the most controversial sales have been made to the Saudi-led coalition of Arab states fighting in Yemen against the militant group Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthi movement, which receives some Iranian support. Reports of high civilian casualties caused by U.S.-made weapons have sparked political conflict between the administration of Donald Trump and many members of Congress as well as the general public, including recently when the Trump administration used a clause of the 1976 Arms Export Control Act to override Congressional review of several sales by claiming an emergency. The connection between arms sales and violence in Yemen has also inspired an attempt in Congress to use a War Powers Resolution to assert legislative authority over U.S. military involvement. President Trump vetoed the War Powers effort as well as legislation to stop some of the "emergency" sales.

Experts to contact*: Kate Kizer (Win Without War), William Hartung (Center for International Policy), Jeff Abramson (Arms Control Association)
* These experts are available to discuss this issue and may have additional/alternate assessments. Inclusion on the Forum on the Arms Trade expert list does not indicate agreement with or endorsement of the opinions of others, or the endorsement of any candidate for political office.

Methodology note: A candidate's position is considered to be "unknown" if they have not explicitly made a statement on ending the transfer of arms and other support to Saudi Arabia and its allies. Statements expressing only general criticism or support for Saudi Arabia are not considered to meet this standard, but relevant statements and other sources are included on individual candidate pages and summarized below.

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