World news – US – The United States plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to the UAE in a $ 23 billion arms deal

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration officially notified Congress on Tuesday that it plans to sell 50 F-35 stealth fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates as part of a broader arms deal worth around a quarter of a billion dollars aimed at deterring threats Potential from Iran despite the concern in Israel

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that he authorized the deal in line with the efforts of the US administration for peace in the Middle East. The notification to lawmakers comes after the signing of the Ibrahim Agreement between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, according to which the Arab countries agreed to normalize relations with Israel

Pompeo said in a statement: « This is an acknowledgment of the deepening of our relationship and the need for the UAE for advanced defense capabilities to deter and defend itself against the growing threats from Iran. »

Israeli officials previously expressed some concern about the F-35 sale as it might affect the balance of military power in the region, but Pompeo said this would be « fully consistent » with the long-term policy of preserving Israel’s qualitative military advantage.

$ 23 billion sale, including 50 F-35s, 18 advanced drone systems and a range of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions

Pompeo said: « The historic agreement of the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations with Israel according to the Abraham Agreements provides an opportunity that will only be repeated once a generation to positively change the strategic landscape of the region. Our opponents, especially in Iran, know this and will not stop at anything to disrupt this common success. « 

After agreeing to normalize relations with Israel in August, Emirati officials said purchasing F-35s was among their main goals at the time. Israeli officials denied agreeing to the sale but later abandoned their public objections to it.

United Arab Emirates, Mike Pompeo, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Donald Trump, Israel, US State Department