Page 26 - ADT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2021 Online Magazine

On the Frontline
The agreement to sell 50 F-35A fighters
worth US$10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9B drones worth
US$2.97 billion, and US$10 billion worth of air-
to-air and air-to-ground munitions was one [ ANALYSIS ]
of the final acts of the Trump administration,
occurring just an hour before President Joe
Biden was inaugurated.

UAE’s Ambassador to the U.S., Yousef Al Otaiba
reacting to the Biden government’s decision
stated that:
“AS IN PREVIOUS TRANSITIONS,
THE UAE ANTICIPATED A REVIEW
OF CURRENT POLICIES BY THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION.” “SPECIFICALLY,
THE F-35 PACKAGE IS MUCH
MORE THAN SELLING MILITARY
Stealth LIKE THE US, IT ALLOWS THE
HARDWARE TO A PARTNER.

UAE TO MAINTAIN A STRONG
DETERRENT TO AGGRESSION. IN
PARALLEL WITH NEW DIALOGUE
Dream AND SECURITY COOPERATION, IT
HELPS TO REASSURE REGIONAL
PARTNERS. IT ALSO ENABLES
THE UAE TO TAKE ON MORE OF
THE REGIONAL BURDEN FOR
COLLECTIVE SECURITY, FREEING
US ASSETS FOR OTHER GLOBAL
CHALLENGES, A LONG-TIME
THE UAE SAYS THE F-35 PACKAGE IS MUCH BIPARTISAN US PRIORITY.”
MORE THAN SELLING MILITARY HARDWARE TO A
PARTNER “The UAE has always fought alongside the US.
And through hundreds of joint missions and
participation in six US-led Coalition efforts,
Our Correspondent we have learned that the key to military coor-

dination is interoperability. With the same
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in the process of modernising equipment and training, US and UAE forces
its air force and was almost poised to become the first Arab state are more effective together when and where
to acquire the F-35 fighter aircraft from the United States. But the it matters,” the Ambassador, who lobbied hard
new U.S. administration, led by President Joe Biden, has temporarily for the deal, said. He also said that the UAE
put on hold a US$23.37 billion deal to sell 50 F-35 Lightning II jets will work closely with the Biden administration
as well as 18 MQ-9 Reaper drones and munitions to Abu Dhabi. on a comprehensive approach to Middle East
peace and stability. For UAE, the F-35 meant
The UAE has been looking to upgrade its ageing fleet since it pulled “frontline defence”.
the plug on a Typhoon Eurofighter deal with the U.K. Government,
and failed to finalise a proposal to buy French fighter, the Rafale. The UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
“Generally speaking when it comes to arms sales, it is typical at the Anwar Gargash had said recently: "Our existing
start of an administration to review any – any pending sales, to make F-16 jets are now almost two decades old, and
sure that what is being considered is something that advances our it is time to renew them...We ought to get them
strategic objectives and advances our foreign policy. So that’s – (the F-35 fighters). The first time we made this
that’s what we’re doing at this moment,” U.S. Secretary of State request was six years ago.” On December 9
Antony Blinken said at his first press conference late January. the U.S. Senate endorsed the former Trump

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