Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Saturday, Aug 02, 2025

Congress allows F-35 sale granting UAE major military upgrade

Congress allows F-35 sale granting UAE major military upgrade

The US Senate failed on Wednesday to pass a bill that would have blocked a $23 billion arms sale to the UAE, thereby granting the country 50 F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The UAE is set to become the first Arab country to obtain the stealth fighters.
The vote on the bill proposed by Bob Menendez, a Democratic senator, failed by 47 to 49.

With the congressional hurdle cleared, the UAE is set to become the first Arab country to obtain the stealth fighters and the second country in the region after Israel.

The UAE ambassador to the US and Minister of State Yousef Al Otaiba thanked the Senate.

“The UAE deeply appreciates the consideration of all senators on today’s votes," Mr Al Otaiba said.

"Continued US support enables the UAE to take on more of the burden for our collective security – ours, yours and our partners. It makes us all safer.”

He said that the UAE was “committed to regional de-escalation and dialogue".

“We look forward to deepening our 49-year relationship with the US as we work together on pressing challenges like global health, climate, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and regional conflicts,” Mr Al Otaiba said.

The sale of 50 of these jets is valued at $10.4bn and has long been sought by the UAE, but it was the signing of the Abraham Accord in September that brought this sale to conclusion.

Israeli officials, including ambassador to the US Ron Dermer, went on the record in defending the sale this week.

“Israel is very comfortable with the sale of F-35 planes to the United Arab Emirates," Mr Dermer told MSNBC alongside Mr Al Otaiba.

"What keeps me up at night isn’t the sale of the F-35 to the UAE. It’s the idea that someone would return to the nuclear deal with Iran."

Last October, Mr Al Otaiba told The National that the country had been trying to acquire the F-35 for years, and while movement on the sale was tied to the Abraham Accord, it was not a result of it.

“There are other items that we’ve been trying to acquire since [US president George W Bush] was in office," he said.

"So, these are things that we have operational requirements for that have simply been held up, largely because of either [Israel’s] qualitative military edge or other release ability issues.

"We’ve now, I think, cleared this bottleneck."

US President Donald Trump supported the move.

“I would have no problem in selling them the F-35, I would have absolutely no problem,” Mr Trump told Fox News in November.

On Wednesday, the White House threatened to veto any bill in Congress blocking the sale.

But with the vote falling short, the UAE is now expected to start technical negotiations with the US to finalise the deal.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Qatar Airways Clears Backlog of Passengers Following Missile Threats
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
×