December 14, 2018

We applaud the U.S. Senate’s decision yesterday to direct President Trump to end U.S. military operations supporting Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, and to demand that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman be held accountable for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The vote in favor of S.J. Res. 54, which demanded that the U.S. end their military support, was the first time that Congress has invoked the War Powers Act of 1973. In voting in favor of the resolution, the Senate is sending a message that America’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is on shaky grounds and must be reassessed.

Several steps still remain between yesterday’s votes and a concrete change in the U.S.-Saudi relationship. While S.J. Res. 54 calls for an an end to U.S. military support, the U.S. continues to offer Saudi Arabia intelligence and logistical support. The resolution has also yet to pass in the House, and won’t even be heard in the lower chamber until next Congress. Even if it does make its way to the President’s desk, the administration has already threatened to veto it.

Still, Thursday marked a historic vote and a powerful message from U.S. Senators that our relationship with Saudi Arabia is up for debate and must be reconfigured to ensure that we hold our so-called allies accountable for their human rights violations. It also marks a major step in the right direction for MPAC and our allies, who have been in coalition advocating for the resolution’s passage.

Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is a national nonprofit working to promote and strengthen American pluralism by increasing understanding and improving policies that impact American Muslims.