https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/europe/24132-instead-of-lebanon-saudi-arabia-gives-billions-to-sudan
Instead of Lebanon, Saudi Arabia gives billions to Sudan
Saudi Arabia has decided to donate $5 billion to the Sudanese army after it stopped billions in support for the Lebanese army, a Sudanese newspaper reported a government official saying on Tuesday.
According to AlKhaleejonlne.com, which reported the news from the Sudan Tribune, the pledge was made during a short visit by the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubier to Khartoum. He met with the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday.
The Sudan Tribune’s sources said that the Kingdom paid this aid to Sudan instead of Lebanon. Saudi Arabia said it was halting the military aid for Lebanon following the country’s failure to support the Kingdom in its recent row with Iran.
In the wake of the visit of his Saudi counterpart, the Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Ghandour said that a ground operation in Syria is “possible” as long as Sudan is part of the Arabic and Islamic “anti-terror alliance”. However, he stressed that is was very early to speak about the matter.
The Sudanese army has been taking part in Saudi operations in Yemen and the Saudi military exercises in the north of the Kingdom.
http://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article58095
(KHARTOUM) - Saudi Arabia has granted five billion dollar military assistance to Sudan initially dedicated to the Lebanese army, multiple sources told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
The diversion of military aid to Sudan comes as the Saudi Press Agency announced on Friday 19 February the cancellation of a $3 billion aid package for the Lebanese army and the remainder of $1 billion in aid it had earmarked for Lebanon’s security service.
The military aid to Sudan was announced to President Omer al-Bashir by the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, during a two-hour visit to the Sudanese capital Khartoum, seemingly in return to his total political and military support to Saudi Arabia in the regional confrontation against Iran.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has diverted to Sudan its military aid to Lebanon," the sources told Sudan Tribune.
"The Kingdom will give Sudan military assistance amounting to $ 5 billion for its army and other regular forces rather than Lebanon because they didn’t condemn the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran," the sources further said.
Sudan Tribune was not able to get an official confirmation for this news from the Sudanese government officials who refused to comment when reached on Monday evening.
It is not clear if Sudan will get the French weapons initially designed for the Lebanese army or will buy weapons from China and Russia, Sudan traditional weapon providers.
The Saudi gift will enhance military capacities of the Sudanese army as it is now member of a Saudi-led military regional alliance.
(ST)
Related article:
Sending Sudanese troops to Syria is “possible”: FM
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article58093
Minister: Sudan open to joining Saudi-led coalition into Syria
http://www.albawaba.com:88/news/minister-sudan-open-joining-saudi-led-coalition-syria-808980
Received on Thu Feb 25 2016 - 18:10:41 EST