US State Department approves two possible arms sales to Kuwait worth $4.2 billion
The US State Department has given the green light to two possible arms sales to Kuwait worth $4.2 billion, according to Pentagon sources. The first agreement would include eight Apache AH-64E helicopters and the upgrading of 16 of its Apache AH-64D helicopters to the AH-64E configuration. The second transaction includes spare parts for the Patriot air defence system.
If successful, the sales would be made through two separate agreements. The price of the helicopters would be up to 4 billion dollars, while the upgrade of the Patriot would cost around 200 million dollars.
The agreement also includes 22 T700-GE 701D engines, 36 remanufactured T700-GE 701D engines, as well as support equipment, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications. The arms manufacturers associated with the sales are Boeing Co, Lockheed Martin Corp, General Electric and Raytheon Technologies, according to the Pentagon. For its part, the US multinational Raytheon would play the role of contractor.
The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale last Tuesday, but this statement does not confirm the signing of the contract. In other words, the negotiations have not yet been concluded despite its approval.
The DSCA, a support section of the Department of Defence responsible for implementing security cooperation programmes; exercising financial management; and the foreign military sales programme, has justified both agreements on the grounds that the decision "is aimed at enhancing the security of an important non-NATO ally acting as a major force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East".
The DSCA announcement also states that, if the United States approves the sale, it would ensure that Kuwait's systems "remain compatible with US systems". The helicopters, according to the agency, "will complement Kuwait's ability to address current and future threats by improving nearby air support, armed reconnaissance and anti-tank warfare mission capabilities".
Last May, the State Department approved a possible $425 million agreement with Kuwait to work on the Patriot missile system, and two months later re-authorised another possible $59.6 million deal to sell several M1A2K training munitions and related equipment also to Kuwait.
The protocol for opening a $1 billion sale of arms to Morocco-initiated after the recognition of the Alaouite kingdom's sovereignty over Western Sahara-and the establishment of relations between Israel and the North African country, as well as the beginning of US negotiations with the Turkish government for the formation of a joint working group on Russian S-400 air defence systems, which led Washington to impose sanctions against the country, confirm the strategy initiated by Washington.
The latest moves in the field of armaments are fuelling the theory of a quest for stabilisation and control over the Middle East. The latest turn of events by the Trump Administration will determine Biden's imminent arrival at the Oval Office following his inauguration on 20 January.
The United States once again reaffirms its leadership in arms exports. It did so between 2014 and 2018, a period in which sales rose by 7.8 per cent worldwide from the previous year and the flow to the Middle East soared. During 2019, more than half of the weapons exported by the United States were destined for this region, according to the Stockholm Institute for Peace Studies (SIPRI).
