A huge new arms deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia may signal a push towards a unified military force in the Gulf.
In a deal that was announced in Washington on Christmas Eve, the Americans are shipping US $60 billion worth of fighter jets, helicopters and upgrades to the Saudis.
Just five days later the Pentagon announced another deal to sell missiles and related technology worth $3.5 billion to the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE package includes an anti-ballistic missile system called THAAD which is designed to destroy missiles both within and beyond the earth’s atmosphere.
This marks the first time this highly sophisticated system has been sold outside America.
