Trump’s State Department (Mike Pompeo) notifies Congress of a plan to sell over $23 billion worth of military equipment to the United Arab Emirates, including drones.
This would mark the first armed drone export since the Trump administration reinterpreted a Cold War-era arms agreement between 34 nations to allow U.S. defense contractors to sell more drones to allies.
Reuters has reported that UAE has long shown interest in purchasing drones from the United States and would be among the first customers in line after U.S. export policy changed this summer. A $600 million deal to sell four unarmed but weapons-ready MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to Taiwan was the first to be formally notified to Congress on Tuesday…
CNBC
The UAE is also seeking a package of Boeing Co EA-18G Growlers, an electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, that are capable of jamming radar and other advanced capabilities. Growlers are operated by the U.S. and Australia.
Last week, the Trump Administration announced a potential sell of F-35 fighter jets to the country. The $23 billion figure in this post includes that package.
The United Arab Emirates played a role in killing civilians in Yemen.
In 2021, with Trump out of office, the Biden administration plans to continue this arms deal, selling the UAE advanced F-35 aircrafts, armed drones, and other equipment.
Some Americans who have been paying attention longer than I have note that this fits the narrative of another scandal from nearly four years ago. Information about the Michael Flynn / Middle East Marshall plan will be added to Trump File at a later time.
External Sources
CNBC (Archived)
Reuters (Archived)
Photo: Public Domain – “Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets with United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan”