Saudi paid $1 billion in exchange for hosting additional US forces on its soil

The U.S. Department of Defense has commented on President Donald Trump’s statements that Saudi Arabia has paid $1 billion in exchange for hosting additional US forces on its soil. A Pentagon spokeswoman, Rebecca Reparic, said in a statement received by CNN on Tuesday, that negotiations are underway between Washington and Riyadh on how to help and pay the costs of US forces staying there. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has agreed to pat the costs of these activities (the survival of the American forces) and talks are under way to formalize these contributions, and such contributions do not lead to sending new American forces, nor do they prompt the Ministry of Defense to take on new tasks or responsibilities,” the spokeswoman said.

Ribaritch declined to comment on bilateral defense agreements, noting at the same time that the United States more broadly encourages the sharing of burdens between partners in support of common security interests, including defense of the Gulf region.

This statement contrasts with Trump’s statements, which he said in an interview with “Fox News” last week that Saudi Arabia, at his request, had deposited a billion dollars on a US bank account in exchange for sending additional forces to it.

Last year, Washington deployed in Saudi Arabia thousands of its military and additional “Patriot” defensive batteries, claiming a response to what Pentagon officials described as an “escalating Iranian threat”.

-Saudi paid $1 billion