Washington praises Saudi-Boeing 787 deal

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Mar 2023 22:23

The White House announces that it is "pleased that Boeing was able to finally conclude these deals with Saudi Arabia after years of discussions, and intensive negotiations over recent months."

A view of the White House in Washington, US, January 18, 2021 (Reuters)

The White House welcomed on Tuesday the "landmark" deal between Saudi Arabia and the Boeing Co BA.N, as it will support US jobs and mark a milestone in Saudi-American cooperation.

The deal was that two Saudi airlines agreed to buy 78 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and took options to buy another 43.

The White House announced that it was "pleased that Boeing was able to finally conclude these deals with Saudi Arabia after years of discussions, and intensive negotiations over recent months."

The deal "is a clear win for American manufacturers and workers, supporting more than 140,000 jobs at over 300 Boeing suppliers across 38 states" and is "a fitting tribute to an economic partnership between our two countries now in its eighth decade," said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun mentioned that the planemaker was supported by the Biden administration and key members of Congress every step of the way. He added that he gave them a lot of credit for their support emphasizing that their relationship has been around for a long time.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican representing South Carolina, which is where 787 is assembled, said lawmakers worked very closely with Boeing. She urged both parties to overcome obstacles to make the deal possible.

She highlighted the terrific job that the Biden administration did in moving the ball forward and landing the purchase.

Graham said, "This multi-billion dollar direct investment by Saudi Arabia in the United States will pay dividends regarding the valuable bilateral relationship between our two countries over time."

A US official said the Saudi deal was a "white whale" for Boeing, which was pursued for years. The official mentioned that the negotiations intensified in May and there were no diplomatic strings attached from the US government.

"We did not get anything or ask for anything in return in terms of the U.S. government," the official told reporters. "This was hardly something that was a sure thing if you look back even a period of a couple of months ago."