The US State Department introduced that President Donald Trump had accepted the potential sale of greater than $1.4 billion in helicopters and F-16 fighter elements simply earlier than his go to to Middle Eastern nations.
The proposed gross sales embody $1.32 billion for the CH-47 F Chinook helicopter and $130 million for F-16S elements, the State Department mentioned Monday.
The company has notified Congress of the proposed sale, however has beforehand signaled that some Democrats could also be hesitant to provide such a inexperienced mild.
This is as a result of Trump is anticipated to journey to the UAE later this week for the ultimate cease of his four-day journey to the Middle East. He has additionally visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar on his first main worldwide journey in his second administration.
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The US State Department has introduced it has accepted the potential sale of greater than $1.4 billion in helicopters and F-16 fighter jet elements to the United Arab Emirates. (Go to Bum-Jun/Newsis through AP, file)
The United Arab Emirates has already vowed to spend $1.4 trillion on US funding over the following decade. This is anticipated to give attention to semiconductors, manufacturing, power and synthetic intelligence.
The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the State Department oversees weapons switch and protection commerce.
The State Department will first overview the transactions different nations are hoping to make sure that they meet the objectives of the US authorities. If accepted, the company will notify Congress of the sale. Congressmen could reject the proposed sale, but when they select to not, the US authorities will proceed with negotiations.
Sen. Chris Murphy mentioned forward of the State Department’s announcement that he would “block arms gross sales to nations which have straight engaged in private enterprise with Trump,” and that the UAE assist funding firm has invested $2 billion in Trump’s crypto enterprise and cited the administration of the US president, who embraced Qatar’s expertise to embrace the vitamin of the 747-8 Junbojet.
US President Donald Trump will communicate on the Saudi Arabian US Investment Forum held on the King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre in Riyadh on May 13, 2025 (Phase Nurdin/AFP through Getty Images)
“We ought to have full Senate dialogue and votes,” Murphy wrote X:
“Using gross sales normally transfer ahead with out a vote,” he continued. “But Senators can oppose and drive a full debate and Senate vote. I’ll try this for a navy contract with a rustic that personally pays Trump again. We can not act this manner.
January, D-MD. Senator Chris Van Hollen and D-Calif. Sarah Jacobs have expressed opposition to the $1.2 billion weapons sale to the UAE, directing a rustic that gives weapons to Sudan’s fast assist forces, which the US has condemned warfare crimes and moral cleaning.
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The State Department has notified Congress of its proposal to promote to the United Arab Emirates. (Nathan Posner/Anadoll Agency through Getty Images)
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Congress beforehand tried to cease Trump from finishing arms gross sales to the Gulf nations. This contains when Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates engaged in dealings with Saudi Arabia over issues about warfare issues in Yemen, and when the Saudi Arabian coalition has been accused of being held accountable for civilian deaths.
But Trump has invoked a provision that permits gross sales to move instantly with out a overview interval whether it is thought of an emergency.