Saudi Arabia has redirected its efforts from seeking a comprehensive defense treaty with the United States, initially linked to normalizing relations with Israel, to pursuing a more modest military cooperation agreement.

RIYADH, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has abandoned its pursuit of an ambitious defense treaty with Washington in return for normalizing relations with Israel and is now pushing for a more modest military cooperation agreement, two Saudi and four Western officials told Reuters.

Saudi Arabia has suspended its pursuit of a US defence treaty, citing stalled progress in resolving the Israel stalemate.

Saudi Arabia has abandoned its pursuit of an ambitious defence treaty with Washington in return for normalising relations with Israel and is now pushing for a more modest military cooperation agreement, two Saudi and four Western officials told Reuters.

Saudi Arabia has abandoned an ambitious defense deal with Washington in exchange for the normalization of relations with Israel. Now, Riyadh insists on a more modest military cooperation agreement, reports Reuters.

Saudi Arabia has abandoned its pursuit of an ambitious defence treaty with Washington in return for normalising relations with Israel and is now pushing for a more modest military cooperation agreement,