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U.S. Senate approves high-tech arms sales to UAE after Trump threatens veto

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President Donald Trump’s high-tech weapons deal with the United Arab Emirates sailed through Wednesday in the U.S. Senate as Trump’s fellow Republicans opposed resolutions of disapproval seeking to block the sale of drones and advanced F-35 fighter jets.

The Senate voted 50-46 and 49-47, mostly along party lines, to stop consideration of the resolutions, killing them at least until President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20. The President had given formal notice of his intention to veto the measures in case of facing any rough waters.

The White House said the sales support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by “enabling the UAE to deter increasing Iranian aggressive behavior and threats” in the wake of its recent peace deal with Israel.

The two weapons packages are a major component of a planned $23 billion sale of high-tech armaments to the UAE.

The deal includes the F-35, the world’s most advanced combat aircraft; over 14,000 bombs and ammunition; and the second-largest US single-country drone sale.

Opponents said the transactions were being rushed through, without sufficient assurances that the equipment would not fall into the wrong hands or fuel instability in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Trump camp claims that the UAE is an important U.S. partner in the Middle East.

Some U.S. lawmakers also criticized the UAE for its involvement in the war in Yemen, a conflict considered one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. The administration told Congress in November it had approved the massive sale to the UAE of products from General Atomics, Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N, and Raytheon Technologies Corp RTX.N.

Lawmakers expressed concern that the weapons transfers might violate U.S. guarantees that Israel will retain a military advantage in the region. But Israel, which enjoys strong support in Congress, has said it does not object to the sales.

Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat who forced votes in the Senate, argued that a US arms sale of this magnitude – without a broader Middle East strategy – could spark a new arms race in a region unstable.

Once the sale is closed, the UAE would become the first Arab country to acquire the F-35.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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