Joe Biden’s administration has decided to lift the ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, the State Department said on Friday (August 9). This reverses a three-year-old policy aimed at pressuring the kingdom to wind down the Yemen war.

The State Department has lifted its suspension of certain transfers of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia.

A senior official confirmed this decision and said Reuters“We will consider new transfers on a case-by-case basis consistent with the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy.”

A source said sales could resume as early as next week.

Here are five reasons why the US is lifting the ban:

• Improved conduct in Yemen: Since a UN-led ceasefire in March 2022, Saudi Arabia has significantly reduced its military actions in Yemen, with no airstrikes and minimal cross-border fire. The United States recognizes the positive steps the Saudi Ministry of Defense has taken to improve processes that minimize civilian harm, in part due to U.S. training and advisory efforts.

• Geopolitical changes and chaos in the Middle East: The recent turmoil in the Middle East, especially after Hamas’ attack on Israel, has changed priorities. As regional tensions rise, the US finds it strategically important to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia, which is seen as a crucial partner in maintaining stability in the region.

• Warming relations between the US and Saudi Arabia: Relations between the US and Saudi Arabia have improved, particularly in addressing broader regional security issues and considering a potential defense pact and nuclear cooperation agreement. These negotiations are part of a larger strategy to bring Saudi Arabia closer to normalizing relations with Israel.

• Strategic Defense Partnerships: The US is negotiating a broader defense pact with Saudi Arabia, including potential civilian nuclear cooperation. This is part of its strategy to align Saudi Arabia more closely with US interests, including efforts to normalize relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv. The lifting of the ban can be seen as a gesture of confidence.

• Response to Iranian influence: The US perceives the conflict in Yemen as a proxy battle between Saudi Arabia and Iran. By resuming arms sales, the US seeks to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to counter Iranian influence in the region, particularly given the Houthis’ alignment with Tehran and their support for Hamas.

With input from Reuters