US stops weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE
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WASHINGTON - The United States (US) has temporarily paused weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the '*AL JAZEERA'*, the US is reviewing weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE authorised by former President Donald Trump, a move that Secretary of State Antony Blinken said was “typical” of a new administration.
In his first press briefing on Wednesday, Blinken said the review aims “to make sure that what is being considered is something that advances our strategic objectives and advances our foreign policy”.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Wednesday that the Biden administration has imposed a temporary freeze on billions of dollars in weapons sales to the two countries, including the sale of precision-guided munitions 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 taking office, he has signed a string of executive actions to review or reverse some of Trump’s key policies.