CNN reported on Wednesday that US intelligence had obtained information confirming that Saudi Arabia was building a ballistic missile program with the help of China.
The network quoted three well-informed sources as saying that Saudi Arabia has stepped up its work in the ballistic missile program in cooperation with China, complicating Washington's efforts to curb the proliferation of weapons in the Middle East.
The CNN report, quoting democratic sources, said the administration of President Donald Trump deliberately concealed intelligence about the Saudi program from Congress.
The US intelligence services are concerned about Trump's commitment to non-proliferation in the Middle East, the sources said.
China is a rival to the United States, meaning that Riyadh's secret reliance on missile development would be a disappointment to Washington's political milieu.
According to the CNN investigation, the intelligence has classified information indicating that Saudi Arabia has expanded technology infrastructure and ballistic missiles through deals with China.
The investigation revealed that secret cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia has raised concerns in Congress that it could lead to a new arms race in the Middle East.
The inquiry also raised the question of whether the move was implicitly sanctioned by the Trump administration in its bid to confront Iran.