Source: Reuters.
Reuters reported on Monday that Saudi Arabia has suspended a $1.5 billion arms agreement that would have enabled Sudan’s military to acquire weapons and JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft from Pakistan, marking a significant shift in Riyadh’s stance on Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
The decision followed high-level talks held in Riyadh in March between Saudi officials and Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Saudi Arabia has been a key supporter of Sudan’s armed forces over the past three years, providing financial and military assistance as they fight the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The suspension is seen as a potential setback for Sudan’s military at a time when it has been expanding its territorial control and securing key strategic areas. The deal, if completed, could have significantly strengthened Sudan’s air power and elevated its regional military standing.
Last month, Africa Intelligence was the first to report that Riyadh had halted the agreement. The publication also indicated that Saudi officials had grown increasingly concerned about Burhan’s foreign policy direction, particularly his outreach to rival powers such as Russia and Iran, as well as discussions over potential military facilities involving those countries.
These developments have raised doubts in Riyadh about Burhan’s reliability as a long-term ally, especially in a post-conflict scenario, and suggest a broader recalibration of Saudi Arabia’s strategy in Sudan with possible implications for the balance of power in the conflict.
