Blinken characterized the review as routine.
“We think Israel has a very positive development to normalize relations with its neighbor and other countries in the region,” Blinken told reporters. “We are also trying to make sure that we have a full understanding of the commitments made to secure the agreements, and that is something we are currently looking at.
“In general, it is typically at the beginning of an administration when it comes to arms sales, to review all pending sales to make sure that what is being considered is something that promotes our strategic objectives and promotes our foreign policy,” he said. added.
UAE responds: The review of the F-35 sale by the Biden government is expected, argues Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the United States. But he claims the package ‘is much more than selling military hardware to a partner.’
“Like the US, it enables the UAE to maintain a strong deterrent to aggression. Alongside new dialogue and security cooperation, it helps reassure local partners,” Otaiba said. in a Twitter thread posted by the embassy. “It also enables the United Arab Emirates to take on more of the local burden on collective security, freeing U.S. assets from other global challenges, a long-term dual US priority.”
Advance movement: At least one major defense contractor is already bragging to Biden about canceling some arms deals. Raytheon Technologies executives said on a quarterly earnings note Tuesday that the company had removed a potential $ 519 million sale to an ally in the Middle East from its books pending the blockchain deal to be blocked.
Dual concerns: The Trump administration’s rapid arms sales to Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE came under fire on Capitol Hill, although efforts by lawmakers to stop it were thwarted.
Although the sale of F-35s to the United Arab Emirates led to dual investigations – both Democrats and Republicans were concerned that the sale could undermine Israel’s military lead in the Middle East – legislation surrounding $ 23 billion in F-35 sales Reaper drones and missiles to the Gulf nation die on the Senate floor in December.
‘Not a blank check’: Ten House Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing for Blinken to act quickly to adjust the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, including by freezing and reviewing arms sales that are contributing to the kingdom’s war in Yemen.
‘US support for the Kingdom is not a mere check and Saudi Arabia must understand that we will no longer act contrary to US interests and values, in order to maintain a relationship that has served Saudi interests for the past few years. served more than it served. our own, ‘the lawmakers wrote in a letter first reported by HuffPost.
“Early action by the Biden government, reinforcing a message already delivered by broad dual majorities in Congress, will help us build a more balanced, healthy and principled relationship with the Kingdom,” they added.
The letter, obtained by POLITICO, is signed by several top House Democrats, including Secretary of State Gregory Meeks (DN.Y.), Chairman of the Armed Services, Adam Smith (D-Wash.), And the chairman of intelligence, Adam Schiff (D-California). .
More questions: In addition to the freeze on arms sales, lawmakers also urged the administration to press for Saudi responsibility for the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, including the release of an unclassified intelligence report blaming the Saudi government.
Lawmakers also called for the Biden administration to reverse the Trump administration’s designation of the Houthis in Yemen as a foreign terrorist designation and to release U.S. citizens voluntarily detained by the Saudi government.