The US Senate calls for the suspension of military aid to Saudi Arabia. And Europe?
(B2) « The US Senate adopted on Thursday (December 13) a resolution bipartisan campaign urging the Trump administration to withdraw armed forces from the conflict in Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress ". This within 30 days.
Military assistance not authorized by Congress
This amounts to canceling any US military assistance to Saudi Arabia related to its war in Yemen. Because, as the senators remind us, there is no provision authorizing the provision of [bomb] targeting assistance or aerial refueling to Saudi Arabian or United Arab Emirates aircraft engaged in such operations ". The White House had already suspended certain in-flight refueling operations in November.
A bipartisan resolution
Carried in a bipartisan way by three senators, Bernie Sanders (Independent, Vermont), Mike Lee (Republican, Utah) and Chris Murphy (Democrat, Connecticut), this resolution was voted by a clear majority: 56 votes For, 41 Against. A dozen Republicans thus voted Yes (the list of votes), showing their displeasure with their leader. It still has to be voted on by the House of Representatives, which will switch to the Democratic side when the new elected officials have taken their seats in early 2019.
The condemnation of MBS
Not content with this warning, the Senate approved another resolution (non-binding) acknowledging " the responsibility of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi ". He also warns Riyadh against increasing Saudi Arabia's military equipment from Russia and China. This poses " a challenge to the strength and integrity of the long-standing military relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia, which may introduce economic and national security risks to both parties”.
A strong gesture
These two resolutions are a snub to Donald Trump's policy and his leniency vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia, whether for its role in the conflict in Yemen or in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on October 2.
And in Europe: a less vibrant democracy than in the USA?
A certain shyness about the role of MBS
The European Parliament, on October 25, 2018, considered “ highly improbable "could have happened" unknowingly or out of control of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A much more convoluted terminology than that of US senators who are more direct and more frank, questioning his " Responsibility Law ».
The demand for an arms embargo without consequences
European parliamentarians have repeatedly passed motions calling for the establishment of an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia, most recently in November (2). But this is a simple recommendation, very optional. Parliament has no role in this area. This is the competence of the Member States. Which is the meaning of the Treaty. But also that of the European Union.
The abdication of European competence
I put the question to the spokesperson for the High Representative. The official position is to say that it has no competence in the field and that it is up to the Member States. Which is, in my view, abdicating his jurisdiction. The High Representative can indeed present a foreign policy initiative, in particular an arms embargo for a given country, the decision then having to be taken unanimously by the States. It's slightly different...
No impetus member states
In this case, the High Representative did not really feel anyimpetus among the Member States to put in place a Europe-wide embargo on Saudi Arabia. France is headwind against this measure. It is far from being the only one, even if some are more discreet: Italy, the United Kingdom (with an ambivalent role), and several Eastern countries which are licensed suppliers of the Arab Kingdom (such as Bulgaria) , are on the same line. Federica Mogherini preferred not to present any initiative in this direction.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
- The US Senate also requested within 90 days a report assessing the risks posed by this suspension for US security, including the risk of terrorism, the population of Saudi Arabia, and its effects on the humanitarian crisis.
- Read Parliament wants to call for increased control of arms exports and an embargo on Saudi Arabia
