Page 30 - ADT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2021 Online Magazine

There is no guarantee or provision that prevents them from sharing F-35 fighter jets to the UAE. There remains
this proprietary knowledge. Before such advancement of weaponry the question of what the Joe Biden adminis-
to the UAE, the American people must be confident that we can tration can or wishes to do with regard to this
trust countries like the UAE not to cause unrest in the region,” the arms sale. While a review raises the potential of
group said in its complaint. Justin Russell, the NYCFPA’s principal stricter U.S. controls over the use and deploy- [ ANALYSIS ]
director, said: “With this deal going forward, the U.S. is setting a ment of the advanced weapons systems, the
baseline for a very dangerous proliferation of weapons in the region Biden administration has yet to signal that it has
and is enabling an arms race to start in the Middle East.” Russell any plans to reverse the UAE-U.S. arms deal.
added: “NYCFPA also calls on the incoming Biden administration
to reconsider this deal for the benefit of peace in the region.” “This could be a sign that the Biden administra-
tion could at least increase scrutiny on future
But former Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke arms sales to the UAE. It is also almost certain
Cooper said the effect of the sale on humanitarian crisis in the that the joint resolutions of disapproval, even as
region was an ongoing consideration but noted that the UAE “have they did not pass, sent a message to the incom-
proved themselves over and over again,” to be a “partner that we ing administration in that regard. However, I
could count on.” “The United States definitely takes these obli- am not sure the new president would go as far
gations seriously. We expect all of the recipients of U.S. defence as suspending a F-35 that would already have
equipment, to abide by terms of the letters of offer and acceptance, been inked," Dr. Soubrier commented.

which again goes back to not just end-use, but also the protec- Wishing to appease Tehran and open a new
tion of the technology and making sure that the equipment is not chapter in regional security is clearly on the
transferred, at least without our awareness or clearance, to third new administration's mind. "However, this also
parties without our authorization," Cooper added. does not mean they would want to block the
F-35 deal, as it would not necessarily be taken
Ambassador Otaiba also pointed out: “The UAE has purchased and as a credible threat by Tehran:" she argued.
operated some of the most advanced U.S. defence systems includ- The announced freeze should not, however, be
ing F-16s, Patriot and THAAD. The U.S. Air Force F-35 squadrons interpreted as too dramatic a shift – the move
are based in the UAE. The UAE has never compromised or shared was qualified by officials as a “routine adminis-
this technology with an adversary or without U.S. knowledge and trative action typical to most any transition.” In
approval.” As a result of these numerous concerns, four bipartisan the case of the F-35 deal, for example, the main
resolutions of disapproval were submitted before the Senate. Two issue put forward by then-campaign advisor
of these were put to the floor on December 9 but votes fell short, Blinken was the necessity to maintain Israel’s
notably failing to block the possible F-35 sale. qualitative military edge. “Given that Tel Aviv
already made clear that it would not object to
Putting arms sales to the Gulf Arab states under additional scrutiny the deal, this pause will likely be short lived, and
was one of the stated priorities of the Biden team. During Biden’s there will be a return to the regular process –
campaign, Blinken had expressed concerns about the commit- which is extremely slow anyway,” Dr. Soubrier
ments that the Trump administration made as part of a deal to sell noted.

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