The United Arab Emirates plans to revive a multi-billion-dollar deal with the United States for F-35 fighter jets and armed drones if Donald Trump wins the November presidential election, Reuters reported, citing several people familiar with the matter.
United Arab Emirates have long been courting the American F-35, often considered the best fighter jet in the world today. These are the only full-scale production fifth-generation aircraft.
If USA approved the transfer, the UAE would be only the second Middle Eastern country after Israelwhich uses F-35 fighters.
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Trump signed a deal with the Emirates at the end of his presidency in 2021, but the UAE suspended talks at the end of the year after failing to reach an agreement with the administration. Joe Biden.
Israeli F-35 fighterswww.gov.il
Three sources told Reuters that if Trump is re-elected, the UAE would seek to resume talks by asking the new Trump administration to honor the original agreement. One of the sources said the UAE intended to ask the new Trump administration to “honor” the 2021 agreement.
Historic agreement
Trump approved a $23 billion deal with the UAE, including F-35 fighter jets, MQ-9 Reaper drones and ammunition, after the Emirates established ties with Israel in 2020 under an agreement brokered by his administration.
This made the UAE the most important Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in 30 years, and gave Trump a significant foreign policy victory just months before the election he ultimately lost to Joe Biden.
After months of discussions, the UAE announced in December 2021 that it was suspending F-35 talks with the Biden administration, citing “sovereign operational constraints” among other reasons. The Biden administration responded that it was ready to move things forward. However, the process remained on hold.
F-35 fighter jets over Hill Air Force Base in UtahUS Air National Guard/DVIDS
Asked by Reuters whether the UAE would ask the next Trump administration to renew the F-35 deal, the Emirati official did not directly confirm or deny it, but said Abu Dhabi had cultivated institutional ties and a solid partnership with Washington across several U.S. administrations.
“Our nations share a commitment to promoting mutual interests and solving common problems, and to work urgently to strengthen regional security and promote prosperity,” the source told Reuters.
The UAE is one of Washington's most important partners in the Middle East. Its military has fought alongside the US in several campaigns, including the war in Afghanistanand American soldiers are stationed in Abu Dhabi.
“Peace Through Strength”
Campaign Press Secretary Donald TrumpKaroline Leavitt, said in a statement that Trump's second term “will once again deliver peace through strength” by rebuilding and expanding the peace coalition he built during his first term, and by ensuring long-term security in the Middle East and around the world.
Before Trump took office, Washington rejected requests to buy fighter jets from Middle Eastern countries, saying the policy was intended to give Israel a military advantage over its neighbors.
52 F-35 fighters scrambled for the “Elephant March” defense.gov
Reuters recalls that Trump enjoyed warm relations with the wealthy Persian Gulf states.
The agency's sources did not say what steps the UAE authorities would take if she is the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harriswill win the election. The Harris campaign declined to comment on the matter.
The White House also did not respond to the agency's questions about the conditions that must be met for the sale of the fighter jets to be completed before the end of Biden's term in January.
Main image source: US Air National Guard/DVIDS