Categories: WORLD

US freezes sales of missiles to Saudi Arabia and F-35s to UAE as it reviews Trump-era arms deals

The move affects precision-guided missiles sold to Saudi Arabia and F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), among other deals not identified by the State Department.

American arms manufacturers Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin both have contracts with the two Arab nations.

“This is a routine administrative action typical to most any transition, and demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to transparency and good governance,” a spokesperson for the department said on Wednesday.

Just last week, the US inked a deal with the UAE to supply it with up to 50 F-35 jets and as many as 18 armed drones, as part of a $23-billion weapons consignment, the Emirati embassy in Washington said. The deal had been announced in November under the Trump administration, and a Senate effort to block it the following month failed to secure majority backing.

In December, the US State Department also gave the go-ahead for the sale of 3,000 precision-guided GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs to Saudi Arabia, in a deal worth $290 million.

Like this story? Share it with a friend!

© 2021, paradox. All rights reserved.

paradox

Share
Published by
paradox

Recent Posts

WATCH Russian drone strike US-made Abrams tank

A video documenting the destruction of a NATO-supplied tank in Ukrainian service appeared on Russian…

6 hours ago

Relations with West, national resilience and forging victory: Key takeaways from Putin’s inauguration

Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially been sworn into office for a fifth term. In…

15 hours ago

Russia issues military ultimatum to UK

Moscow will retaliate against British targets in Ukraine or elsewhere if Kiev uses UK-provided missiles…

2 days ago

Zelensky can’t ‘mobilize God’ – Russian church

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky cannot enlist God in Kiev’s fight against Moscow, the Russian Orthodox…

2 days ago

Ukrainians are God’s chosen people – Zelensky

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has proclaimed that God is an “ally” of Ukraine in the…

3 days ago

Israel ready for temporary truce with Hamas – Netanyahu

Israel is willing to pause its military offensive in Gaza if Hamas releases all the…

3 days ago