<p>The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is threatening to pull out of a multibillion-dollar arms deal with the United States over complaints that the deal’s security requirements are too stiff.</p>
<p>UAE officials complained to the United States that security requirements meant to guard against Chinese espionage are too stringent and put at risk the UAE’s sovereignty, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-arab-emirates-threatens-to-pull-out-of-23-billion-f-35-drone-deal-with-u-s-11639491997">The Wall Street Journal</a>. The UAE’s embassy in Washington confirmed to <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2021/12/14/uae-suspends-talks-on-23-billion-weapons-deal-with-us/">Defense News</a> that the Emirate government had moved to “suspend discussions” with the U.S. on the arms deal.</p>
<p>“The U.S. remains the UAE’s preferred provider for advanced defense requirements and discussions for the F-35 may be re-opened in the future,” the embassy told Defense News in a statement.</p>
<p>The $23 billion would have seen a fleet of American-made F-35 fighter jets, drones, and munitions traded from the U.S. to the Emirates. Former President Donald Trump’s multilateral <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-touts-huge-breakthrough-as-israel-united-arab-emirates-agree-to-historic-peace-deal">agreement</a> between the UAE and Israel, designed to strengthen ties between to the two U.S. allies, laid the foundation for the arms deal.</p>
<p>Emirate officials’ chief concern was over the U.S. retaining authority over how and where the F-35s are used. As <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/uae-threatens-pull-out-23-bln-f-35-drone-deal-with-us-wsj-2021-12-14/">Reuters</a> reported:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>A person briefed on the negotiations said for several months sticking points between the United States and the UAE revolved around how the stealthy jets can be deployed and how much of the sophisticated F-35 technology the Emiratis will be allowed to take advantage of. The person asked not to be identified by name or by association with either country.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that the arms deal requirements “are universal, non-negotiable, and not specific to the UAE,” according to Defense News.</p>
<p>Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at a Wednesday news conference in Malaysia, where Blinken was meeting with members of the Malaysian government, that the U.S. remains committed to the arms deal.</p>
<p>“We’ve wanted to make sure, for example, that our commitment to Israel’s qualitative military edge is ensured, so we wanted to make sure that we could do a thorough review of any technologies that are sold or transferred to other partners in the region, including the UAE,” Blinken said.</p>
<p>Some U.S. officials suspect that the Emirates’ resistance to the deal is more of a negotiating tactic and not an existential threat to the deal itself. As WSJ reported:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>The letter communicating the threat was written by a relatively junior official in the government, suggesting the overture was a negotiating tactic heading into the meeting, U.S. officials said. Other officials said that while the U.S. has legitimate security concerns, there was a scramble to salvage the sale of weapons to a Gulf partner.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>“We remain committed to these sales, and the Emiratis have raised some concerns,” a U.S. official told WSJ. “Frankly, we have some questions of our own. This sort of back-and-forth is not unusual for significant arms sales and we are hopeful we can work through these issues and we think the joint military dialogue will give us an opportunity to do so.”</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

UAE Threatens To Scrap $23B U.S. Arms Deal Over Security Concerns

Trump Says Netflix Should Fire ‘Racist, Trump Deranged’ Susan Rice

Trump Orders Release Of ‘Any And All’ Info On Aliens And UFOs

Man Targets DHS Building With Stolen Ambulance In Attempted Arson Attack

Bill Gates Drops Out Of Keynote Speech Last Minute As Epstein Rumors Swirl

Trump Left The World Health Org Last Year. Now, He’s Replacing It.

One Of The CDC’s Biggest Critics Is Now In Charge Of The Whole Thing

News

Antony Blinken

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Menu

— News —

UAE Threatens To Scrap $23B U.S. Arms Deal Over Security Concerns