US officials have said it is not uncommon for a new administration to review arms sales approved by a predecessor. President Biden on Wednesday.
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The Biden administration has imposed a temporary freeze on US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as it analyzes billions of dollars in arms deals approved by former President Donald Trump, according to US officials.
The review, officials said, includes the sale of precision-guided ammunition to Riyadh, as well as top F-35 fighters to Abu Dhabi, an agreement approved by Washington as part of the Abraham Accords, in which the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic relations .
US officials said it was not uncommon for a new administration to review arms sales approved by a predecessor and that, despite the break, many of the transactions would eventually continue.
But according to President Biden’s campaign promises, Washington is trying to ensure that US weapons are not used to continue the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, where its conflict with Iran-aligned Houthis has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths. and widespread hunger.
Officials at the Saudi and Emirate embassies in Washington did not immediately comment on developments.
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