A formation of US Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets perform aerial maneuvers during a combat force exercise over Utah Test and Training Range, Utah, USA November 19, 2018. US Air Force / Staff Sgt. Cory D. Payne / Handout via REUTERS.
Two senior Democratic senators will introduce legislation on Friday that would confirm Congressional oversight of international arms deals after President Joe Biden’s administration decided to go ahead with a $ 23 billion sale to the United Arab Emirates that worried lawmakers Congress officials said.
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 “Secure F-35 Exports Act of 2020” would apply to the sale of advanced US military technology to countries that are not NATO members or to Israel, Australia, Japan, South Korea or New Zealand.
Among other things, it would hinder sales of the F-35s – which can take years after a deal is struck – unless a president makes detailed statements to Congress that the critical technology would not fall into the wrong hands or otherwise compromise advanced technology . .
It would also require that any sale to any Middle Eastern country other than Israel would not jeopardize Israel’s military advantage over such countries, and would provide assurance that the aircraft would not be used in operations that are harmful for the security of Israel.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that the Biden government had told lawmakers it was 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 Democrat administration had paused former Republican President Donald Trump’s agreements to allow for a revision.
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 had been rushed through it without proper assessment. read more
“We must take steps to ensure that the incredibly sensitive technology of these planes is not compromised by forces hostile to the United States, including ensuring that the UAE withdraws from its burgeoning relationship with China and others. US competitors, ”Menendez said in a statement issued. to Reuters.
The Trump administration told Congress in November that it had approved the sale of the US to the UAE as an ancillary to the Abraham Accords, a US-brokered agreement in September in which the UAE agreed to normalize relations with Israel.
In the closing months of the Trump administration, Israel reached agreements with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco as part of the accords.
The $ 23.37 billion package included 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 have also said they are concerned about Biden’s decision. Representative Gregory Meeks, chair of the House’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Wednesday that he and other lawmakers were concerned about the decision and would review the transactions. L1N2M735P
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