WASHINGTON – – The United Arab Emirates confirmed that it signed agreements with the United States on former President Donald Trump’s last full day in office to purchase up to 50 F-35 jets, 18 armed drones and other defense equipment in a deal worth $23 billion.
The UAE embassy in Washington said in a statement on its website that the letters of agreement had been finalised on Tuesday confirming terms of purchase, including costs, technical specifications and anticipated delivery schedules.
Reuters first reported the news on Wednesday.
The deal, however, could now be reviewed as the new Biden administration has said it will re-examine the agreements for the sale, which the Trump administration had said supported U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by allowing the UAE to deter Iranian ‘threats’.
The UAE, a close U.S. ally, has long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets made by Lockheed Martin and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal when it agreed to normalize ties with Israel last August.
The embassy said the contracts included as many as 50 F-35 A fighters valued at $10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9B drones valued at $2.97 billion, and various munitions valued at $10 billion.
It did not mention the final in – country delivery date for the F-35 jets, but people familiar with the matter had told Reuters the initial proposal sent to UAE said 2027.
In December, the U.S. Senate rejected attempts to block the transaction which opponents had said was being rushed through without sufficient assurance that the equipment would not fall into the wrong hands or fuel instability in the Middle East.
The embassy statement said the Gulf Arab state was committed to de-escalation in the region and that the defense package enhanced U.S.-UAE military interoperability.
It said the transaction was also ‘consistent with the bipartisan US National Defense Strategy of enabling partners to take on more responsibility for their own and collective security in the Middle East’.
The UAE said on Thursday that it looked forward to working with President Joe Biden’s administration.
Two Gulf Aircraft Involved in ‘Minor Incident’ At Dubai Airport
The tail of a Gulf Air passenger aircraft was hit by another plane at Dubai International Airport on Thursday, Bahrain’s state news agency BNA reported, in what a Dubai Airports spokesperson described as a minor incident. UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said on Thursday in a statement, ‘This morning a minor collision occured between two … More Two Gulf Aircraft Involved in ‘Minor Incident’ At Dubai Airport
France’s Macron To Hold Cabinet Meeting On Pegasus Spyware Case
French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a special cabinet meeting on Thursday morning to discuss investigations into the Pegasus spyware case, gorvernment spokesperson Gabriel Attal said. Attal said progress was being made in the investigations after Amnesty International and a group of international media organisations said spyware made and licensed by a company based in … More France’s Macron To Hold Cabinet Meeting On Pegasus Spyware Case
The Kaaba Receives A New Kiswa To Commemorate Eid al – Adha
Saudi officials have replaced the Kiswa (the cloth cover) of the Kaabato commemorate the Day of the Arafat and the start of Eid al – Adha, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Monday. The process of changing the Kiswa occurs annually on the seconf day of Hajj under the supervision of the President of … More The Kaaba Receives A New Kiswa To Commemorate Eid al – Adha
Saudi Arabia To Require All Citizens To Be Fully Vaccinated Before Traveling By Aug 9
All Saudi Arabian citizens will be required to have had two COVID-19 vaccine doses before traveling outside the Kingdom from August 9, the Kingdom’s interior ministry announced on Monday. The new requirement will not be applied to children under the age of 12 provided that their travel insurance policy covers expenses relating to COVID-19 and … More Saudi Arabia To Require All Citizens To Be Fully Vaccinated Before Traveling By Aug 9
Saudi Crown Prince Allocates $1 Million As Marriage Grants
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has directed SR 3.74 million ($997.080) to be distributed as marriage grants to 200 young men and women across the Kingdom. The money comes out of his ‘keennes to support orphans with special circumstances and people with disabilities, as they are among the priority groups of the ‘SNAD … More Saudi Crown Prince Allocates $1 Million As Marriage Grants
Key OPEC+ Producers Reach Preliminary Output Deal
Key producers of OPEC+ countries have reached a preliminary deal on gradualy oil output until December and extension of their pact until end of 2022, an OPEC+ source told Reuters on Sunday. OPEC+ hold an online meeting later on Sunday.
Saudi Commentators Go Public In Criticising UAE Role In Yemen
Pro – government commentators in Saudi Arabia are public criticising the United Arab Emirates’ role in Yemen, a rare move that reflects political and economic tensions between the two Gulf allies that also led to an open standoff over the oil policy. Saudi Arabia is trying to contain a power struggle in southern Yemen between … More Saudi Commentators Go Public In Criticising UAE Role In Yemen
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Directs 1 Million COVID – 19 Vaccine Doses For Tunisia
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has issued directives to provide Tunisia with one million doses of the coronavirus vaccine and aid upon the request from Tunisian President Kais Saied, according to an announcement issued on Monday. The King directed the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action (KSRelief) to urgently support Tunisia with medical and … More Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Directs 1 Million COVID – 19 Vaccine Doses For Tunisia
Saudi Crown Prince, Tunisian President Discuss Boosting Relations
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, received on Friday a telephone call from Tunisian President Kais Saied. Talks focused bilateral relations and ways of bolstering them in all fields. They also discussed issues of joint interest.
Sultan Of Oman To Visit Saudi Arabia On Sunday
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the Sultanate of Oman will make a two – day official visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday after he received an invitation from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The visit comes within the framework of strengthening the historical and … More Sultan Of Oman To Visit Saudi Arabia On Sunday
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
