The Biden istration will follow through with the billion-dollar sale of F-35 fighter jets and combat drones to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), congressional aides said Tuesday. the sale had been suspended shortly after the inauguration of the President, in January.
The UAE had reached an agreement in the last hours of Donald Trump's government. The package provides for the supply of 50 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, 18 MQ-9B Reaper combat drones and air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, all for US$ 23,7 billion.
At the end of January, eight days after the new president took office, the purchase was suspended. At the time, the US State Department explained that the suspensions are normal and occur so that new istrations can review agreements for the acquisition of war articles through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
According to Reuters AgencyInA US State Department spokesperson said the government would go ahead with the proposed sales to the UAE, “even as we continue to review details and consult with Emirati authorities” related to the use of weapons.
The Trump istration told Congress in November that it approved the U.S. sale to the UAE as a side deal to the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-brokered deal in September in which the UAE agreed to normalize relations with Israel.
In the final months of the Trump istration, Israel struck deals with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco as part of the agreements.
Some US lawmakers have criticized the UAE for its involvement in the war in Yemen, a conflict considered one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters, and fear the arms transfers could violate US assurances that Israel will maintain a military advantage in the region. .
A legislative effort to stop the sales failed in December when Trump's Republican colleagues in Congress backed his plans. The Trump istration finalized the massive sale to the UAE on January 20, about an hour before Biden was sworn in as president.
The Biden istration is also reviewing its military sales policy to Saudi Arabia, including some Trump-era arms deals, in light of Saudi involvement in Yemen and other human rights concerns.
“We will also continue to reinforce with the UAE and all recipients of US defense goods and services that US-origin defense equipment must be properly protected and used in a manner that respects human rights and fully complies with the laws of armed conflict,” said the spokesperson.
The UAE Air Force already has 59 Dassault Mirage 2000-9 and 78 F-16E/F Desert Falcon/Block 60 fighters.
