*US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed Tuesday that the United Statesplanned to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United ArabEmirates as part of a $23.37 billion package.*
The State Department sent a formal notice to Congress on the sale of thestealth precision planes, long sought by the Gulf Arab ally which won agreen light after agreeing in September to recognize Israel.
“The UAE’s historic agreement to normalize relations with Israel under theAbraham Accords offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to positivelytransform the region’s strategic landscape,” Pompeo said in a statement.
“Our adversaries, especially those in Iran, know this and will stop atnothing to disrupt this shared success,” he said.
Democratic lawmakers on October 29 had reported that the State Departmenthad informally discussed the sale with Congress, which has the power toblock arms sales.
The Democrats voiced mixed feelings, fearing that the sale would set off anarms race in the region and jeopardize Israel’s undisputed military edge inthe region.
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But Israel dropped objections to the sale as it sought even more high-techequipment from the United States.
Pompeo confirmed that the sale would include up to 50 F-35s — equivalent tothe size of Israel’s fleet of the Lockheed Martin aircraft, which can beused to gather intelligence, conduct airstrikes and carry out air-to-aircombat.
He said the sale would also include up to 18 MQ-9B advanced drones as wellas $10 billion worth of air and ground munitions.- APP/AFP
