Washington halts arms deals to UAE, Saudi Arabia

On Jan 28, 2021 1:34 AM

In this Aug. 5, 2019, photo released by the U.S. Air Force, an F-35 fighter jet pilot and crew prepare for a mission at Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The Trump administration has formally notified Congress that it plans to sell 50 advanced F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates as part of a broader arms deal worth more than $23 billion. (Staff Sgt. Chris Thornbury/U.S. Air Force via AP)

SANAA, Jan. 28 (YPA) – The Wall Street Journal first reported on Wednesday that the Biden administration has imposed a temporary freeze on billions of dollars in weapons sales to the two countries, including the sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia and F-35 fighters to the UAE.

The move comes one week after Biden, who has promised to “reassess” Washington’s relationship with Riyadh, was inaugurated.

Since taking office, he has signed a string of executive actions to review or reverse some of Trump’s key policies.

Observers viewed the US decision as a painful blow to the Saudi-Emirati coalition, which has been intervening militarily in Yemen since 2015 under the pretext of restoring the government of legitimacy despite Riyadh’s years-long detention of President Hadi in what looked like house arrest.

E.M