Biden Administration Pauses Controversial Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia And UAE

President Joe Biden is temporarily freezing weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, pledging to review a set of controversial arms deals former President Donald Trump struck with the two U.S. allies in the waning days of his administration.

This freeze will temporarily hold up at least two deals crafted by Trump in recent months to sell fighter jets and bombs to the UAE and Saudi Arabia respectively, the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg first reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.

The Biden administration plans on reviewing some of those deals, a State Department spokesperson told Forbes, a move it characterized as a routine action for a new administration.

At least one defense contractor expected a pause: Raytheon CEO Greg Hayes told investors Tuesday the company was preparing for Biden to halt an arms deal with an unnamed “customer in the Middle East” (Raytheon did not respond to Forbes when asked whether that customer is Saudi Arabia).

The UAE Embassy in Washington tweeted the country “anticipated a review” of Trump’s arms sale and said it will work with the Biden administration.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment, and the Saudi embassy could not be reached for comment.

Source : Forbs News Agency