Emirates threatens to suspend purchase of F-35 aircraft from the US
The United Arab Emirates may cancel its purchase of F-35 fighter jets from the United States, an Emirati government official has told Reuters news agency. The $23 billion military pact includes, in addition to 50 F-35 fighter jets made by US company Lockheed Martin, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. Abu Dhabi's decision may be due to sovereignty concerns, the official told Reuters. The UAE believes that the security requirements the US has put in place to protect high-tech weaponry from Chinese espionage are too costly and jeopardise national sovereignty.
"Technical requirements, sovereign operational constraints and cost-benefit analysis led to the reconsideration" of this treaty, the Emirati explained. Nevertheless, "the United States remains the UAE's preferred supplier in defence matters," according to the official. He also noted that the dialogue on fighter jets "may be reopened in the future".
China's influence over the Persian Gulf states, particularly the Emirates, is of growing concern to Washington. Last week, Emirati authorities suspended the construction of a Chinese port project near Abu Dhabi due to US "pressure". Also this year, US intelligence agencies became suspicious that China was building a military facility near the Emirati capital.
The strong presence of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei Technologies Co., which provides the Emirate with communications infrastructure, is also causing alarm in the US. US officials and members of Congress have branded the technology company a "national security threat" because of its ties to the Beijing government.
In this context, President Joe Biden expressed his concern about China's presence in Abu Dhabi to Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and also assured him that he feared Beijing's activity in the region could damage cooperation between the two, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Although the US remains the top arms supplier to the Middle East with a 28% increase between 2016 and 2020, according to figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute; Beijing's economic clout has increased in the region in recent years due to Belt and Road or New Silk Road Initiative projects. "China has also presented itself as a partner for almost every country in the region, carrying out infrastructure projects in Egypt and Saudi Arabia and developing strong ties with Iran," notes Umar A Farooq, a journalist for the Middle East Eye.
The Secretary of State said during an official visit to Malaysia that Washington remains prepared "to move forward, if that's what the Emiratis are interested in doing". Regarding the conditions that do not convince Abu Dhabi, Blinken explained that the US wants to "make sure that we can do a thorough review of any technology that is sold or transferred to other partners in the region". In this regard, he stressed that Washington wants Israel to maintain its "military edge", according to Reuters. The Israeli government was initially opposed to Arab countries acquiring F-35s in order to maintain its military superiority in the region, but after the signing of the Abraham Accords, Israel agreed to the Emirates receiving the fighters.
Meanwhile, a State Department official stressed to The National News that "the Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to sales of F-35 aircraft, the MQ-9B drone and munitions". "We are hopeful that we can resolve any outstanding issues," he added. The Joint Military Dialogue between the United States and the United Arab Emirates is due to take place soon, allowing the two sides to discuss and negotiate on the agreement and the requirements set by Washington. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby is open to discussion on the issue. "We are committed to working with the UAE to address their questions and ours with respect to this sale," he said. However, he stressed that the requirements for the protection of US defence equipment "are universal and non-negotiable".
This military deal was announced during the last days of former US president Donald Trump's term in office and is linked to the Abraham Accords, in which the United Arab Emirates, and later Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan normalised relations with Israel. In addition to the current controversy, the arms pact caused controversy within the US Senate. Numerous lawmakers, including members of the Democratic Party, rejected the bill, arguing that arms sales could further exacerbate conflicts in the region.
