WASHINGTON – The United States (US) has temporarily paused weapons sales toSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the ‘*AL JAZEERA’*, the US is reviewing weapons sales to SaudiArabia and the UAE authorised by former President Donald Trump, a move thatSecretary of State Antony Blinken said was “typical” of a newadministration.

In his first press briefing on Wednesday, Blinken said the review aims “tomake sure that what is being considered is something that advances ourstrategic objectives and advances our foreign policy”.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Wednesday that the Bidenadministration has imposed a temporary freeze on billions of dollars inweapons sales to the two countries, including the sale of precision-guidedmunitions to Saudi Arabia and F-35 fighters to the UAE.

The move comes one week after Biden, who has promised to “reassess”Washington’s relationship with Riyadh, was inaugurated. Since takingoffice, he has signed a string of executive actions to review or reversesome of Trump’s key policies.