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| U.S. Knew About Migrant Killings by Saudi Forces Earlier Than Previously Disclosed | U.S. Knew About Migrant Killings by Saudi Forces Earlier Than Previously Disclosed |
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| The State Department said U.S. diplomats in Saudi Arabia had first heard reports of a dramatic increase in lethal violence against migrants and asylum seekers by that nation’s border forces in the summer of last year and had immediately asked officials at “high levels” of the Saudi government to investigate. | The State Department said U.S. diplomats in Saudi Arabia had first heard reports of a dramatic increase in lethal violence against migrants and asylum seekers by that nation’s border forces in the summer of last year and had immediately asked officials at “high levels” of the Saudi government to investigate. |
| The department made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday night to The New York Times in response to questions posed early this week about the U.S. government’s knowledge of the reported violence and its working relationship with Saudi Arabia’s border forces. Those forces have been accused in recent weeks of killing hundreds or thousands of African migrants as they have tried to cross from Yemen into the kingdom. | The department made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday night to The New York Times in response to questions posed early this week about the U.S. government’s knowledge of the reported violence and its working relationship with Saudi Arabia’s border forces. Those forces have been accused in recent weeks of killing hundreds or thousands of African migrants as they have tried to cross from Yemen into the kingdom. |
| The statement was the first time the State Department has publicly acknowledged it has known since last summer about the reported surge in killings by the Saudi forces. That contradicts a statement last weekend by the agency that the U.S. government first heard of “allegations of abuses” when the United Nations made public disclosures in December. | The statement was the first time the State Department has publicly acknowledged it has known since last summer about the reported surge in killings by the Saudi forces. That contradicts a statement last weekend by the agency that the U.S. government first heard of “allegations of abuses” when the United Nations made public disclosures in December. |
| The State Department also said on Thursday that the U.S. government helped train Saudi border forces from 2015 to 2023, but insisted that was focused on water-based training for maritime guards and did not include border guards on land. | The State Department also said on Thursday that the U.S. government helped train Saudi border forces from 2015 to 2023, but insisted that was focused on water-based training for maritime guards and did not include border guards on land. |
| The disclosures are drawing the attention of American lawmakers, some of whom say the U.S. government should curtail weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, a longtime partner that is frequently accused of human rights violations, and dial back other aspects of U.S.-Saudi security and defense cooperation. | |
| The scrutiny from Congress comes as President Biden and his aides are considering whether to enter into a robust defense agreement and civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia and sell it more advanced weapons as part of an effort to get the country to normalize relations with Israel. |