Following a revision of a Trump-era agreement, the Biden administration is going forward with more than $23 billion in arms sales to the United Arab Emirates.
The agreement covers the sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets as well as armed drones.
Anti-war activists and Democratic politicians have urged the United States to halt all weapons sales to the UAE due to its position in the Saudi-led, US-backed war in Yemen.
According to a State Department spokeswoman, the government intends to proceed with the planned sales to the UAE, “even as we continue reviewing details and consulting with Emirati officials” related to the use of the weapons.
In November, the Trump administration informed Congress that it had accepted the US sale to the UAE as a side deal to the Abraham Accords, a September arrangement brokered by the US in which the UAE agreed to normalize ties with Israel.
Israel said it did not object to the sales.
In light of Saudi intervention in Yemen and other human rights issues, the Biden administration is also updating its strategy for arms sales to Saudi Arabia, including several Trump-era weapons transactions.
