KUALA LUMPUR — US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken insisted Wednesday the US was still prepared to sell F-35 fighter jets to the
UAE, which has threatened to scrap the deal over stringent conditions.
اضافة اعلان
The $23 billion arms package was pushed through by former
president Donald Trump in what was seen as a reward for the
UAE's recognition
of Israel, but his successor Joe Biden has pledged greater oversight over the
planes.
The Gulf state threatened to dump the agreement Tuesday over
the strict conditions, and it comes as Washington grows concerned about China's
involvement with the US ally.
But Blinken said "we remain prepared to move forward
... if that is what the Emiratis are interested in doing", speaking during
a visit to Malaysia.
Asked about the conditions the US has set, he did not give
precise details, but said Washington wanted to ensure that Israel maintains its
"military edge".
"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," he said.
US ally Israel historically objected to Arab states
obtaining the F-35s, seeking to maintain its regional advantage, but gave its
blessing after the UAE last year became the first new Arab country in decades
to recognize Israel.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the impasse,
said that the US was insisting on conditions to make sure the F-35s would not
be vulnerable to Chinese espionage.
Lawmakers from Biden's Democratic Party unsuccessfully
sought to stop the sale, pointing in part to the Gulf state's participation in
the bloody Saudi-led offensive in
Yemen and its support for Libyan warlord
Khalifa Haftar.
The F-35s are prized for stealth capabilities and
versatility with the capacity to gather intelligence, strike deep into enemy
territory and engage in air duels.
Israel and the UAE have found common cause on concerns about
Iran, although a top Emirati official this month visited Iran, where officials
voiced hope for smoother ties.
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