Middle East bucks flat trend in international arms imports
In its report, the SIPRI said that the United States remains the largest arms exporter and had increased its global share of arms exports from 32% to 37% between the first and second halves of the decade.
Tuesday 16/03/2021
Visitors tour the Fifth Gulf Defence and Aerospace exhibition (GDA) in Kuwait City on December 10, 2019. (AFP)
STOCKHOLM Arms imports to the Middle East rose by a quarter in the decade to 2020 even though arms sales globally remained stable over the same period.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI, said the Middle East figures were driven chiefly by the world’s largest arms importer, Saudi Arabia, which increased its purchases by 61%. Egypt’s imports rose 136% and those of Qatar’s 361%.
Published on: Friday, January 29, 2021
By: AFP
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US soldiers standing next to an F-35A Lightning II stationed at the Emirati Al-Dhafra base, on April 15, 2019. (AFP)
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s administration signalled a fresh look at US policy in the Middle East, announcing reviews of massive arms packages for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as well as envisioning a slow return to diplomacy with Iran.
On his first full day on the job, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that his top priorities would include addressing the catastrophe for civilians in Yemen, where US ally Saudi Arabia has been bombarding Iranian-linked Huthi rebels.
UK under pressure to freeze arms sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
UAE envoy says his country expected US review of policies
“The UAE will work closely with the Biden administration on a comprehensive approach to Middle East peace and stability,” Ambassador Yousef al-Otaiba said in the post.
Thursday 28/01/2021
A file picture shows Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States, speaking in New York. (AFP)
WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden’s administration has temporarily paused some pending arms sales to US allies in order to review them, a US State Department official said on Wednesday.
Reviews of this sort are typical for a new administration and the State Department said it was temporarily pausing sales authorised by former President Donald Trump, including a $23 billion package of cutting-edge F-35 jets to the United Arab Emirates.