United States to supply arms and military equipment to Arab Countries

Washington – The US State Department allows the shipment of arms to Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Almost a year back, the Biden Administration had suspended the arms supply to Saudi Arabia as they used the weapons to attack the Houthi rebels in Yemen. However, recently, the Houthi rebels have intensified their attack on UAE and Saudi Arabia. The Biden Administration had been accused of orchestrating these attacks. Hence, the Biden government has been under pressure and has decided to allow the supply of arms and military equipment to UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Houthi rebels based in Yemen have attacked the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle East countries. The Biden Administration has taken a tough stand against these attacks. Last year in February, the Biden Administration had decided to suspend its arms supply to Saudi Arabia and had withdrawn its air defence system deployed in Saudi Arabia. After this, the attacks on Saudi by the Houthi rebels intensified. However, apart from verbally condemning the attack, the US government had not provided any support to Saudi Arabia.

Houthi attacks on UAE and Saudi Arabia have intensified. Recently there was a missile attack on the capital of UAE. Reactions of these attacks are seen in the US. Gatestone Institute, a renowned think tank from the United States, criticised and held the Biden administration’s policies and soft stand towards Houthi rebels responsible for the attacks. The think tank has warned that the increasing aggression of Iran-backed Houthi rebels will pose a security threat to the UAE, Saudi, and the United States.

Opposition leaders in the US have accused the Biden Administration of damaging the bilateral relations of the US with Israel, Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Hence under pressure, the Biden Administration and the US State Department has permitted the supply of arms and military support of Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Accordingly, the US will provide Saudi Arabia with 31 communication-navigation terminals to upgrade its air security system, worth $23.7 million. The US will provide spare parts and radar for air defense systems to the UAE worth 6.5 billion dollars. The US is preparing to supply 12 F16 Block 70 fighter jets to Jordan. Although the US State Department has approved this military assistance to UAE, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, it may not get through the US Congress. In such a case, the countries in the Middle East may be left to rely on other countries for their security needs.