U.S. officials said it is not uncommon for a new administration to review arms sales approved by a predecessor. President Biden on Wednesday.
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The Biden administration has imposed a temporary freeze on U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as it reviews billions of dollars in arms deals approved by former President Donald Trump , according to US officials.
The review, officials say, includes the sale of precision-guided ammunition in Riyadh and front-line F-35 fighters in Abu Dhabi, an agreement Washington approved as part of the Abraham Accords, in which the Emirates established diplomatic relations. with Israel.
U.S. officials said it is not uncommon for a new administration to review arms sales approved by a predecessor and that despite the pause, many of the transactions are likely to continue to move forward.
But in line with President Biden’s campaign commitments, Washington is trying to make sure U.S. weapons are not used to boost the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, where its conflict with Houthis aligned with Iran has caused thousands of civilian deaths. and widespread hunger.
Officials at the Saudi and UAE embassies in Washington did not immediately comment on the events.
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