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Pentagon Reaches Deal on $10 Billion Arms Sale to Middle East Allies

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Photo Credit: gregwest98

The Pentagon announced Friday that it has reached a preliminary agreement on a complex $10 billion arms deal with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in what would represent the latest major weapons sale to U.S. allies in the Middle East.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will attempt to finalize the arms package next week when he is scheduled to visit the three countries. Ultimately, the deal will need the assent of Congress. Defense officials said they have kept lawmakers apprised of the negotiations and revealed basics of the agreement to lawmakers on Thursday.

Under terms of the deal, the United States would deliver V-22 Osprey transport aircraft, KC-135 refueling planes and anti-radiation missiles to Israel; about two dozen F-16 warplanes to the UAE; and advanced aircraft missiles to the Saudis and the Emiratis. News of the pact was first reported Friday by the New York Times.

U.S. officials indicated that the weapons are designed to boost each country’s military capabilities in the event of a conflict with Iran. “The common threats that we, the Israelis, Saudis and Emiratis, have are clear,” a senior defense official told reporters at the Pentagon on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not received final approval.

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Obama Wins, U.S. Now Backing New U.N. Arms Treaty Talk

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“caveman chuck” cokerUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Hours after U.S. President Barack Obama was re-elected, the United States backed a U.N. committee’s call on Wednesday to renew debate over a draft international treaty to regulate the $70 billion global conventional arms trade.

U.N. delegates and gun control activists have complained that talks collapsed in July largely because Obama feared attacks from Republican rival Mitt Romney if his administration was seen as supporting the pact, a charge Washington denies.

The month-long talks at U.N. headquarters broke off after the United States – along with Russia and other major arms producers – said it had problems with the draft treaty and asked for more time.

But the U.N. General Assembly’s disarmament committee moved quickly after Obama’s win to approve a resolution calling for a new round of talks March 18-28. It passed with 157 votes in favor, none against and 18 abstentions.

The main reason the arms trade talks are taking place is that the United States – the world’s biggest arms trader accounting for more than 40 percent of global conventional arms transfers – reversed U.S. policy on the issue after Obama was first elected and decided in 2009 to support a treaty.

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