Opinion
Presidents Hassan Rouhani of Iran, Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Vladimir Putin of Russia pose for a picture after a news conference during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, September 16, 2019. Photo: Pavel Golovkin/Pool via REUTERS.
The recent US government decision to sell arms to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) raised objections from politicians and NGOs, even when the sale forms part of a greater strategy to promote stability in the Middle East.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo notified Congress on November 10 of a planned $23 billion sale of advanced weapons systems missiles, advanced F-35 fighter jets, and Reaper drones and munitions to the UAE. The State Department approved the sale to reward formalization of diplomatic ties with Israel. The arms deal also is intended to safeguard the UAE’s territorial integrity and security against Iranian threats.