The Biden administration is advancing with a $ 23 billion arms sale to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that has been approved under the Trump administration.
“We can confirm that the Administration intends to move forward with these proposed defense sales to the UAE, even as we continue to examine the details and consult with UAE officials to ensure that we have developed mutual understanding of the Emirati’s obligations before, during and after delivery, ”a State Department spokesman told The Hill. HuffPost first reported the plan.
Former President Trump
Donald Trump Trump: McConnell “helpless” to stop Biden from packing Romney court for Trump’s NRSC award: Not “my preference” McConnell ignores Trump by calling him a “stupid son of a b —- ” MORE announced the sale for the first time last year after the UAE agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. The package includes 50 F-35 Lightning II aircraft, up to 18 unmanned aerial systems MQ-9B and air-to-air and air-to-ground projectiles.
The State Department said in January that it was discontinuing the sale so that the Biden administration could review the package.
The sale sparked outrage from Democrats who criticized the roles of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen’s civil war against Houthi rebels, which killed thousands of civilians and led to a serious humanitarian crisis.
A State Department spokesman said the Biden administration would communicate with the United Arab Emirates that the weapons should be used properly and that they would not be delivered until 2025 at the earliest.
“The estimated delivery dates for these sales, if implemented, are scheduled after 2025 or later. Thus, we anticipate a robust and sustained dialogue with the UAE so that any defense transfer fulfills our mutual strategic objectives in order to build a stronger, interoperable and more capable security partnership, “the spokesman said.
“We will also continue to strengthen, together with the United Arab Emirates and all recipients of US defense articles and services, that US-based defense equipment must be secured and used appropriately in a manner that respects human rights. man and to fully respect the laws of armed conflict “, added the spokesman.
In addition to the UAE’s role in Yemen, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed concern about the potential of the sale to erode Israel’s military advantage in the region. However, the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin (Bibi) NetanyahuMORE and Defense Minister Benny Gantz said they would not oppose Abu Dhabi’s sale of “certain weapons systems” after the United States vowed to make unspecified improvements to the Israeli armed forces.