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The United States has approved military sales worth $16.46 billion to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as both Gulf nations grapple with the security impact of the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The announcement came on Thursday, with Washington citing heightened regional threats following missile and drone attacks launched in response to a recent U.S.-Israeli air campaign.
According to the U.S. State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the transactions under emergency provisions, bypassing the usual requirement for Congressional approval.
The department explained that the decision was based on an urgent need to bolster the defensive capabilities of the affected countries.
The largest component of the deal involves $8 billion worth of advanced air and missile defence sensor radars, designed to detect and track high-speed threats and support integrated defence systems.
The UAE also secured approval for a $4.5 billion long-range discrimination radar system aimed at improving its ability to monitor and counter ballistic missile threats.
Further packages approved for the UAE include $2.1 billion for systems to counter small unmanned aerial vehicles, $1.22 billion for advanced air-to-air missiles, and $644 million for munitions and upgrades for its F-16 fighter jets.
The arms package comes as Gulf states continue to commit significant military resources to intercept incoming threats, following a wave of attacks linked to the escalating regional conflict.
US approves $16.46bn arms sales to UAE, Kuwait amid regional tensions
