A formation of the U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets performs air maneuvers as part of a combat force exercise over Utah test and training ground, Utah, USA November 19, 2018. U.S. Air Force / Staff Sgt. Cory D. Payne / Handout via REUTERS.
Two senior Democratic senators will pass legislation Friday that would allow Congress to oversee international arms deals after President Joe Biden’s government decided to continue a $ 23 billion sale to the United Arab Emirates that worried lawmakers , said congressional assistants.
The bill, seen by Reuters, will be introduced by Senators Bob Menendez, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Dianne Feinstein, a senior member of the Intelligence Committee.
The “Safe F-35 Export Act of 2020” applies to the sale of sophisticated US military technology to non-NATO countries, or Israel, Australia, Japan, South Korea or New Zealand.
This will prevent, among other things, the sale of the F-35s – which can take years after an agreement is reached – unless any president gives detailed explanations to Congress that critical technology will not fall into the wrong hands, or otherwise advanced technology will not endanger. .
It will also require that any sale to a country in the Middle East, other than Israel, does not jeopardize Israel’s military advantage over such countries, and with the assurance that the aircraft will not be used in operations that are harmful. for Israel’s security.
Reuters reported Tuesday that Biden’s government has told lawmakers it is continuing with more than $ 23 billion in arms sales to the United Arab Emirates, including advanced F-35 aircraft, armed drones and other equipment. read more
The Democratic government has suspended the deal that former Republican President Donald Trump agreed to allow for a review.
The sale to the Gulf nation was signed just before Trump left office on January 20, and many members of Congress – especially Biden’s fellow Democrats – felt they were being rushed through without proper review. read more
“We need to put in place protections to ensure that the incredibly sensitive technology of these aircraft is not jeopardized by forces hostile to the United States, including ensuring that the UAE withdraws from its emerging relationship with China and other US competitors. “Menendez said in a statement to Reuters.
The Trump administration told Congress in November it had approved the U.S. sale to the UAE as a side agreement with the Abraham Accords, a U.S. mediation agreement in September in which the UAE agreed to normalize relations with Israel .
In the last months of the Trump administration, Israel has agreed with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco as part of the agreements.
The $ 23.37 billion package includes products from General Atomics, Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX.N), including 50 F-35 Lighting II aircraft, up to 18 MQ-9B unmanned aerial systems and a package of air-to-air and air-to-ground ammunition.
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives also said they were concerned about Biden’s decision. Representative Gregory Meeks, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Wednesday he and other lawmakers are concerned about the decision and will review the deal. L1N2M735P
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