The UAE F-35 deal with the US has been a controversial part of the Abraham Accord. While the UAE has sent a formal request to purchase the fighter jets, the US ambassador to Israel has said it would take another 6–7 years for UAE to acquire the jets.
The announcement of the UAE-Israel peace deal on August 13 and then the official signing on September 15, amidst these changing events, the efforts to normalize relations between the two nations have surged at a great pace. However, since the initiation, there have been multiple debates around the pact.
From “betrayal” of the Palestinians to the UAE F-35 deal, there have been growing concerns from a number of human rights defenders as well as diplomats from across the world. The attempt of UAE’s purchase of F-35 was seen as the main reason behind Emirates’ approval for the peace agreement. However, the rising criticism couldn’t restrain the UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from signing the deal in Washington, last month.
Amidst all the discords, not-a-formal clause of UAE’s purchase of F-35 fighter jets remained contentious, where some criticism even came from Israel. Despite all that, the Emirates submitted a formal request to the US State Department to acquire these next-generation jets from the United States, towards the end of September. However, the officials didn’t reveal the number of jets that the Arab nation is seeking.
It was seen as a first step in the UAE F-35 deal, which is likely a long process of securing the stealth fighter jets. Prior to the Emirates’ request, the US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman stated that it would take several years for the UAE to receive the planes.
The United Arab Emirates has been striving to get the F-35 jets from past nearly six-seven years, said Friedman. He stated that the UAE would possibly not be able to acquire the fighter jets for another six or seven years, which also depends on the permission to sell the aircraft.
The UAE F-35 deal has also been denounced by Israel, which has been concerned over the potential risk that the sale of stealth fighter jets brings for Tel Aviv’s military edge in the Middle East. Besides, a decades-old policy and law of 2008 prohibits the US from making any arms sales to the Middle Eastern countries, if they are determined by the Pentagon of causing a damage to Israel’s “Qualitative Military Edge”.
As per the reports, the United States is looking to sign an agreement regarding UAE’s F-35 purchase by December. However, a major hurdle remaining to be addressed is Israel’s concern for its security, which could come in danger because of this sale. Israeli PM Netanyahu, who has signed the peace pact, also denies giving approval for the UAE purchase of F-35.
Where the UAE is trying hard to make the peace deal beneficial for its military power, the country it now maintains normal relations with, Israel still looks confused over approving the UAE F-35 deal that could hamper its own monopoly and authority in the region.
