By Jared Malsin
The Trump administration is invoking the emergency provision of U.S. arms control law in order to sell billions of dollars in arms including bombs and air defense systems to the United Arab Emirates.
The use of the emergency provision of the Arms Export Control Act means that the weapons sales will bypass the congressional review process that usually oversees major foreign weapons sales.
The proposed sales include radar and air defense equipment for the U.A.E. at an estimated cost of $4.5 billion.
"This proposed sale will improve the United Arab Emirate's capability to meet current and future threats in the region by expanding the defended area to 360 degrees which benefits the U.S. and its partners," the State Department said of the sale of the air defense items.
A separate sale to the Emirates costing $644 million includes 1,500 small diameter bombs and upgrades for F-16 jet fighters. The administration also used the emergency clause for that sale. Another calls for the sale of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) at a cost of $1.22 billion.
The administration separately announced the proposed sale of Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor Radars for Kuwait valued at $8 billion, and a smaller $70 million sale of aircraft and munitions support for Jordan.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 19, 2026 14:27 ET (18:27 GMT)
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