US Air Force/Senior Airman Alexander Cook
"We did everything by the book and they will discover that once the review is complete and it will proceed," the ambassador said, describing the review as "pro forma"
Dan Arkin | 2/02/2021
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
The ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, is convinced that the deal for the sale of F-35 stealth fighters to his country will be implemented when the "review" of pending arms deals is finished. The UAE ordered 50 F-35 stealth fighters and 18 armed drones worth a total of $23 billion. During a virtual conference of the Washington Institute on Monday, he said "We did everything by the book and they will discover that once the review is complete and it will proceed," describing the review as "pro forma".
The State Department announced that the administration is "temporarily pausing the implementation of some pending U.S. defense transfers and sales" to allies. Regarding the move, Ambassador Al Otaiba said "If you are going to have less of a presence and less involvement in the Middle East you can’t at the same time take tools away from your partners who are expected to do more."
There has been opposition in the US to the sale of the stealth fighters and other advanced equipment to the Emirates, based on a claim that the deals were decided without sufficient assurances and guarantees that the equipment will not fall into the wrong hands or cause instability in the Middle East.
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