WASHINGTON – An effort to stop President Donald Trump’s high-tech weaponsdeals with the United Arab Emirates fell short on Wednesday in the USSenate as Trump’s fellow Republicans opposed resolutions of disapprovalseeking to block the sale of drones and advanced F-35 fighter jets.

The Senate voted 50-46 and 49-47, mostly along party lines, to stopconsideration of the resolutions, killing them at least untilPresident-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.

Biden, a Democrat, is expected to review the sales. Early on Wednesday, theTrump administration had issued a formal notice of its intention to vetothe measures if they passed the Senate and House of Representatives.

The White House said the sales support US foreign policy and nationalsecurity objectives by “enabling the UAE to deter increasing Iranianaggressive behavior and threats” in the wake of its recent peace deal withIsrael.

Backers of the sale also described the UAE as an important US partner inthe Middle East.