UAE suspends talks with the US over F-35 fighter jets

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended talks with the United States (US) over a $23 billion defense deal involving the purchase of F-35 aircraft, armed drones and other equipment.

According to details, the UAE embassy in Washington has said that it will suspend talks on the agreement with the United States. However, the Pentagon will hold talks this week between the two countries on moving other issues forward as planned, Dawn reported.

A statement from the embassy said the United States was still the UAE’s top priority for advanced defense equipment and that talks on the F-35 were likely to resume in the future. The proposed sale of 50 F-35s to the UAE came at the end of Donald Trump’s tenure and following the UAE’s agreement to normalize relations with Israel.

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Biden later postponed the deal after taking office, citing criticism from Saudi Arabia and the UAE over their role in the Yemen conflict. The proposed agreement also includes a package of 18 state-of-the-art drone systems and air and ground ammunition.

Emirati officials have blamed the United States for the insistence and restrictions on the use of F-35 aircraft, saying it violates sovereignty. The State Department says the administration is still committed to the proposed agreement.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the terms of use of US-made defense equipment for the UAE were non-negotiable and specific. He said the US partnership with the UAE was more strategic and more complex than arms sales.

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The suspension was announced by the Wall Street Journal.

It is to be noted that the UAE has been working with the United States for a long time for counter-terrorism, however, with the UAE strengthening ties with China, tensions between Washington and Abu Dhabi are escalating.

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