Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXI, Near East Region; Arabian Peninsula

314. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia¹

Washington, August 29, 1968, 2224Z.

230121. Ref: Jidda 5140.² Subject: Saudi Armored Forces Planning.

1. As indicated Brewer letter of July 1 to Ambassador³ believe it undesirable stimulate Saudi interest in purchasing new tanks. SAG has already expended substantial funds on various types of military hardware and number of tanks quoted reftel appears to be considerably in excess of SAG’s needs and of its maintenance and manpower capabilities.

2. It seems highly unlikely that tanks such as the M-60 and the XM-551 would be available for SAG purchase within time frame covered by study. Furthermore, we must consider possibility legal and policy restrictions overriding our general desire be responsive to Saudi requests. Thus we wish to avoid serious difficulties that would arise should planning exercise be taken by SAG as promise which we would later be unable fulfill. We, of course, also recognize our interest in maintaining US position as supplier military equipment to Saudis and would make every effort, upon specific request by SAG, to respond favorably within the limits noted above.

3. We have no objection to USMTM’s providing MODA with comparative data as requested. However, would not appear that comparability study requires we give commitment as to availability two years hence. As previously stated by Ambassador to Prince Sultan, we are not in a position to make such commitment. Therefore Embassy should inform USMTM that possible legal and policy restrictions plus uncertainties of supply limit USG ability to do more at this time than provide comparability data without explicit or implied commitments.

4. Jidda 5140 repeated separately for info CINCSTRIKE.

Rusk

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, DEF 12-5 SAUD. Confidential. Drafted by Newton; cleared by Colonel Wix (DOD/NESA), E. Randall Backlund (AID/PPC/MAS), Colonel Bunte, and Lewis D. Junior (G/PM); and approved by John N. Gatch (NEA/ARP). Repeated to CINCSTRIKE.
2. Telegram 5140 from Jidda, August 19, reported that, at the request of the Saudi Ministry of Defense and Aviation (MODA), USMTM was conducting a study of tanks for the future development and modernization of the Saudi armored forces, and that the Saudis were thinking in terms of eventually acquiring 300-350 new tanks. In order to make realistic recommendations, USMTM needed to know whether the U.S. Government in principle was willing to sell such U.S. tanks as the M-48A3, the M-60, the M-609A1, or the M-551 to Saudi Arabia. It stated that, in the Embassy view, the U.S. Government should, for purposes of current MODA planning, permit the Saudis to assume that in principle the United States was prepared to authorize the sale of U.S.-manufactured tanks to them. (Ibid.)
3. Not found.