The United States has announced its approval of a $9 billion deal to sell Patriot missile systems to Saudi Arabia.

The Pentagon said in a statement that the sale of the missiles to Saudi Arabia strengthens the security of a key ally.

The U.S. State Department explained that the arms sale to the Kingdom includes 730 Patriot missiles and related equipment “in a way that supports the national security of the United States and the security of a major non‑NATO ally that represents a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.”

It added that “this enhanced capability will protect Saudi and U.S. ground forces as well as local partners and will significantly improve the Kingdom’s contribution” to the region’s integrated air and missile defense system.

The announcement came as Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz visited Washington, where he met last Thursday at the White House with the U.S. Secretary of State, acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The meeting reviewed the strategic relations between the two friendly countries, the prospects of the Saudi‑U.S. partnership, and ways to strengthen and develop it, in addition to discussing efforts to achieve peace in the region and the world.

Prince Khalid bin Salman also announced in a post on X on Saturday that he “met with researchers from U.S. think tanks and organizations to discuss the importance of the Saudi‑U.S. strategic relationship and the efforts being made to promote global peace and security.”