FILE PHOTO: F-35 Lightning II pilot U.S. Air Force Captain Kristin "BEO" Wolfe performs the "dedication pass" maneuver at the 2020 Fort Lauderdale Air Show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. November 21, 2020. Picture taken November 21, 2020. U.S. Air Force/Capt. Kip Sumner/Handout via REUTERS.
The Hill: Concerns over growing ties between UAE and China could impact sale of F-35s: report
Growing ties between the United Arab Emirates and China have U.S. officials worried that a $23 billion weapons sale to Abu Dhabi will be impacted.
American spy agencies have tracked new transport flights between the two countries, with China’s People’s Liberation Army planes landing at an airport in the U.A.E., U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal.
The new movement has the Biden administration worried that Abu Dhabi might allow China to access the United States’ latest defense technology should Washington go through with the multi-billion dollar sale of a possible 50 F-35 fighters, 18 Reaper drones and munitions.
Read more ....
Update #1: F-35 Sale to U.A.E. Imperiled Over U.S. Concerns About Ties to China (WSJ)
Update #2: UAE's F-35 Deal Runs Into U.S. Demands, Red Line On China: Report (Investors Business Daily)
WNU Editor: This is not only a big deal .... UAE signs deal with U.S. to buy 50 F-35 jets and up to 18 drones: sources (Reuters), but the UAE is one of the few Arab states that have recognized Israel. Cancellation of this deal will be sending a very strong negative message towards to the U.A.E..
2 comments:
While the Editor's comments re the impact this might have on the sale of F-35s to UAE, it is also true that, in light of potential F-35 deal, the UAE's growing friendship with China sends "a very strong negative message towards the USA"!
Maybe the planes cost too damn much, because the entire cost structure of the US is too high. UAE wants to sell to the Chinese to offset the cost.
Maybe with 50% of more of the US political establishment wanting to sell Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States down the river to accommodate Iran, the Gulf States have no loyalty to the US. Blinken and company will do it with all the assuredness of doing "God's Work". The 50% plus of the political establishment is in power half to two thirds of the time, s the Gulf Arabs know, if they lay down, they are going to have to take it over half the time.
Maybe they respect power. China has quite a bit and are willing to use it. So many in the chattering classes in the media and mandarins behind the Beltway were so concerned about the US being the lone super power ion the 1990s and the early oughts they longed for a multi-polar world. Maybe the Gulf Arabs see that outlook as a mental defect. They are going with a winner.
Maybe the Gulf Arabs like China because China wants to trade with the China beyond the end of oil. China wants to trade and trading beyond the end of oil with the Gulf States is not on the radar in DC or Wall street.
Maybe they are doing it, because the are Muslims.
Maybe Saudi Arabia and UAE are tired of the US not being all in. The US will fight the Houthi and then throw a "humanitarian" yellow flag and penalize Saudi Arabia and UAE and they are sick of it.
Biden doesn't have many coherent thoughts very often. His close associates do not impress Obama, which should ring alarm bells as Obama is no prize either. Biden and company will screw it up.
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