Middle East Allies Receive Quiet US Warning On Stocking Chinese-Made Weapons: 'Think Our Partners Understand That'

U.S. warned Middle Eastern allies about potential risks of buying Chinese weapons, Business Insider reports.

Middle Eastern countries, including long-standing U.S. partners, are increasingly purchasing Chinese arms. U.S. officials have expressed concerns that these Chinese-made weapons might not be compatible with U.S. hardware.

General Michael Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, mentioned the U.S. is in a “race to integrate with” the region before “China can fully penetrate the region.”

Colin Kahl, a former U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, also highlighted that the widespread adoption of Chinese military equipment could interfere with the U.S.’s plans of establishing an integrated air-defense system in the region. The project is in collaboration with regional partners.

“We’re not going to let Chinese air-defense systems interact with our networks, and I think our partners understand that.”

Chinese arms sales in the Middle East have surged by 80% over the past decade. This rise is attributed to Beijing’s growing ties in the region and its ability to deliver arms more swiftly and with fewer conditions than Washington.

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