The UAE F-35 deal has not been able to take flight since the Gulf nation began requesting for the most advanced and sophisticated stealth fighter jets. The emirate claims to strengthen its security division with the military supplies, but objections and concerns have been raised by both the US and Israel; the supplier and the only Middle-East nation to own the planes, respectively. While Israel has been adamant on not sharing its military ‘edge’ with another Gulf nation, US’ concern circles around Abu Dhabi’s close ties to two of its biggest arch-rivals — Iran and China.
US Rejection of UAE F-35 Deal
The sale was proposed as a result of the UAE-Israel peace deal achieved in September 2020. The Abraham Accord was hailed as a historic step taken towards attaining ‘peace’ in the Middle East, which is one of the most politically unstable region. Nevertheless, the F-35 jets UAE requested afterwards seemingly became the agenda of the emirate shaking hands with the decades old rival. The request has pushed many into giving it a second thought, concerning UAE’s trade relations with US-sanctioned Iran and the Chinese defense sector.
One of the first and foremost concerns that the United States has put across the table in objecting to the UAE F-35 deal is the national security threat that comes along. There is a broad possibility that the US’ most sophisticated and advanced technology might get into the hands of its rivals through the deal.
Therefore, the request for F-35 jets UAE placed was met with concerns raised by Joel Rubin, the Washington Strategy Group president and former deputy assistant secretary of state, Obama administration.
Rubin claimed that “When the U.S. engages in military sales with foreign governments, we do so with the understanding that our military technology will not be used to help our adversaries.”
Rubio added that in the case of UAE F-35 deal — or any other country for instance — US must be sure that it protects the technology it is selling to a foreign nation. In the case of UAE, it is the States’ crown jewel technology, F-35.
Before seeking financial benefits or maintaining foreign relations, the United States is considering to protect its national security by objecting to the risky F-35 deal.
Several reports claim that UAE-China and UAE-Iran share extensive ties with each other, based on which the US has raised security concerns. UAE-China relations mainly concerns the latter’s defense sector. Of late, the UAE purchased Beijing’s low altitude laser defense system helpful in targeting drones. In addition, the Gulf nation also bought Chinese battle tanks followed by other advanced armaments, including underwater defense procurement.
Whereas, the UAE has risked its ties with the United States several times by sharing continued trade relations with Iran, despite sanctions on the Persian Gulf nation. From steel, aluminium, copper trade, to business in the aviation and petroleum sectors, the UAE-Iran relation has seen it all. The US sanctioned UAE for financially contributing to the GDP and economy of Iran, by sharing extensive trade and business ties with the latter. Yet their diplomatic relations remain unhurt for the time being.
Rubin has been concerned about the military cooperation between UAE-Russia and China followed by being the biggest trade partner to Iran. The relations make space for vulnerability, according to Rubio, who believes that the UAE F-35 deal will only make matters worse, if the technology got into the wrong hands. It would only render superiority of US’ technology to the rivals and become meaningless for both the Americans and Israelis.
A non-resident fellow at the Gulf International Foreign in Foreign Policy, Samuel Ramani said that “Selling F-35’s to the United Arab Emirates could give Russia access to U.S. technology and erode Israel’s regional military edge.”
He also hinted at the possibility of US’ technology become lethal for its own defense sector, as the possibility of its own aircraft being shot down by Russia using their technology becomes higher by agreeing to the UAE F-35 deal without necessary protection. The objections continue, despite President Donald Trump’s stance being in favor of the UAE acquiring the F-35s.
Will US’ diplomatic relations prevail over its national security?
