US proceeding with $23 billion defence sales, including F-35s, to UAE
Deal includes advanced F-35 aircraft, drones and other equipment
US President Joe Biden’s administration has told Congress it is proceeding with more than $23 billion in defence equipment sales to the UAE, including advanced F-35 aircraft, drones and other equipment, congressional aides said yesterday.
A State Department spokesperson said the administration would move forward with the proposed sales to the UAE, “even as we continue reviewing details and consulting with Emirati officials” related to the use of the weapons.
Abraham Accords
The Trump administration told Congress in November it had approved the US sale to the UAE as a side deal to the Abraham Accords, an agreement in September in which the UAE agreed to normalise relations with Israel.
In the last months of the Trump administration, Israel reached deals with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco as part of the accords.
Delivery from 2025
The $23.37 billion package contained products from General Atomics, Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Technologies Corp, including 50F-35 Lightning II aircraft, up to 18 MQ-9B Unmanned Aerial Systems and a package of air-to-air and air-toground munitions.
The State Department spokesperson said the estimated delivery dates on the UAE sales, if implemented, were for after 2025 or later.
The government anticipated “a robust and sustained dialogue with the UAE” to ensure a stronger security partnership, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
“We will also continue to reinforce with the UAE and all recipients of US defence articles and services that USorigin defence equipment must be adequately secured and used in a manner that respects human rights and fully complies with the laws of armed conflict,” the statement said.