U.S. officials said it was not uncommon for a new government to review arms sales approved by a predecessor. President Biden Wednesday.
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The government in Biden has instituted a temporary freeze on US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as it is reviewing billions of dollars worth of arms deals approved by former President Donald Trump, according to US officials.
The investigation, according to officials, included the sale of precision-guided ammunition to Riyadh as well as top F-35 fighters to Abu Dhabi, an agreement that Washington approved as part of the Abraham agreement, in which the Emirates established diplomatic relations it with Israel.
U.S. officials said it was not uncommon for a new government to review arms sales approved by a predecessor, and that despite the break, many of the deals are likely to eventually go ahead.
But in line with President Biden’s campaign promise, Washington wants to ensure that US weapons are not used to advance the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, where the conflict with the Iranian Houthi has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths. has. and widespread hunger.
Officials at the Saudi and Emirates embassies in Washington did not immediately comment on the developments.
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