The White House is defending a new business deal between Boeing and Saudi Arabia.
Under the agreement, valued at nearly $37 billion, Boeingwill provide the Middle Eastern nation with 121 of 787 Dreamliner jets, that will be equipped with General Electric’s most advanced GEnex engines.
The planes will become part of the fleet for two airlinesthat are owned by the Saudi government.
President Joe Biden had promised to turn the Saudi government into a "pariah" state after the 2018 murder and dismemberment of an American journalist, a murder that has been blamed on the Saudi crown prince.
Boeing bids farewell to an icon, delivers last 747 jumbo jet
Since 1969, the 747 has served as a cargo plane, a commercial aircraft capable of carrying nearly 500, and the Air Force One presidential aircraft.
However, on Tuesday, White House officials said it's important to maintain both business and military ties.
“We also believe that it's important that we continue to provide Saudi Arabia self-defense capabilities, because now, look, again, we welcome the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which we hope can lead to an end to the Yemen war and to attacks on Saudi Arabian soil by Iran-backed rebels in Yemen. But that remains to be seen,” said John Kirby, National Security Council spokesman.
The White House says another benefit of the deal is that it will support over one million jobs across 44 states, and provide service for passengers to over 100 destinations in the U.S. and around the globe.
