WASHINGTON DC, KOMPAS.com – Senat AS split and failed to stop President Donald’s government efforts Trump sell F-35 fighter jet ke United Arab Emirates.
Some senators have even voiced fear that the Trump administration, which is leaving next month, will spark a dangerous arms race.
Previously, the White House had approved the sale of the fifth-generation fighter jets, drones and other equipment worth 23 billion US dollars (Rp 324.5 trillion).
Also read: US Willing To Sell Advanced F-35 To UAE, 50 Units Prepared
The sale was agreed to as part of a bid after the United States (UAE) became one of the first Gulf countries to restore relations with Israel.
In two votes, the 50 senators failed to believe that Trump had gone too far before his administration was replaced by Joe Biden.
They worry that the UAE has become a major ally of Saudi Arabia in the campaign to fight the Houthi rebels in Yemen and cause a humanitarian crisis there.
One of the proponents of the sales proposal, Senator Roy Blunt of the Republic, stated that the arms delivery was part of their job.
According to Blunt, the existence of the fighter aircraft will increase the combat capability of the UAE in fighting the same enemy, Iran.
The White House itself has issued a statement, that F-35 will help the UAE counteract Iran’s aggressive behavior that threatens Middle East peace.
Robert Menendez, a member of the US Senate Foreign Committee agreed that Tehran is a threat that must be tackled together.
However, he stressed they do not yet know the danger if weapons such as the F-35 or combat drones are aimed directly at Iran.
He also noted that Qatar, which is currently under a blockade of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has also pressed for permission to have these advanced air weapons.
“Do we think we can sell these weapons to the UAE, and have other countries knock on our doors creating an arms race?” he said on the Senate floor.
Not to mention the fact that the UAE is sending war equipment to Libya, which is currently embargoed by the United Nations, or its close ties to China.
Also read: Iran’s Weapons Embargo Ends, Can Tehran Drop F-35?
Changes in the dynamic Middle East region
Senator Rand Paul, a known Trump ally, also decided against the sale and joined the opposition.
“It is not yet known whether deploying such formidable military technology to the region will in fact provide peace,” he was quoted as saying AFP Thursday (10/12/2020).
He questioned whether the US Senate was ready to take responsibility if the UAE turned out to be abusing the sophistication of the F-35 fighter jet.
“Can we trust the people who are already bombarding civilians in Yemen, and think they can act wisely in the future?” he asked.
Also read: US Seeks Ways to Sell F-35 Fighter Jets to the United Arab Emirates without injuring Israel
The most expensive weapons project in US history, the F-35 is equipped with advanced sensors and data collection technology.
Therefore, the aircraft made by Lockheed Martin is suitable for air assistance, intelligence gathering, and dogfight (one on one war).
The US State Department said the country from the agreement of the seven emirs ordered 50 units, the same as the Israeli fleet.
In fact, Tel Aviv had resisted the UAE’s attempt to buy the F-35. Because it is important for them to maintain their unmatched status in the Middle East.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to reject it because the UAE was already willing to restore relations with them last September.
Also read: Sales of US F-35 stealth fighter jets to UAE, targeted in December to conclude preliminary agreement
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