The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly set to reignite a multi-billion dollar deal with the U.S. for F-35 warplanes and armed drones if Donald Trump secures a second term as president, according to insiders.
What Happened: The UAE has long desired the advanced fighter jet equipped with stealth technology that allows it to evade enemy detection. The U.S. approval of the transfer would make the UAE the second Middle East state after Israel to operate F-35 fighters, Reuters reported on Friday.
Trump had approved the $23 billion deal, which included MQ-9 Reaper drones and munitions, after the UAE established ties with Israel in 2020 under an accord brokered by his administration. However, the UAE suspended talks by the end of 2021, unable to agree terms with the Biden administration.
Three sources stated that if Trump was re-elected, the UAE would seek to resume talks, asking a new Trump administration to fulfil the original agreement. One of the sources said the UAE would ask a new Trump administration to “honour” the 2021 deal.
The UAE is one of Washington’s most important security partners in the Middle East. Its military has fought alongside the U.S. in several campaigns, including the war in Afghanistan, and American soldiers are stationed in Abu Dhabi.
Trump’s campaign’s national press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that a second Trump presidency would “once again deliver peace through strength to rebuild and expand the peace coalition he built in his first term to create long-term safety and security in the Middle East and around the world.”
Why It Matters: The F-35 deal has been a point of contention between the U.S. and UAE. In 2021, the Biden administration had urged the UAE to replace Huawei Technologies Co from its telecommunications network, which further jeopardized UAE’s purchase of $23 billion in Lockheed Martin Corp’s LMT F-35 jets and drones.
The U.S. requested the UAE to remove Huawei equipment from its networks within the next four years before the F-35’s proposed delivery in 2026 or 2027. However, the UAE officials said they need more time and sought an affordable alternative.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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