Senate Rejects Effort to Block UAE Arms Sales

The Senate voted Dec. 9 to reject bipartisan resolutions to block U.S. arms sales to the United Arab Emirates. The resolutions, introduced by Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.; Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; and Rand Paul, R-Ky., were struck down 46-50 and 47-49. The trio had tried to garner bipartisan support over the past month, saying the sales of billions of dollars worth of F-35 fighter jets, drones and military equipment could harm U.S. national security (see 2012070022). Speaking before the votes, Menendez said the sales deserved more “careful and deliberate consideration within” the administration. “We are being asked to support a significant transfer of advanced U.S. technology, without clarity on a number of key details regarding the sale, or sufficient answers to critical national security questions,” he said. “There are simply too many outstanding questions.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., earlier this week said Congress should “not stand in the way” of the sales. “A significant competition for influence in the Middle East is underway,” he said Dec. 8, “and China and Russia will be more than happy to meet the demand for advanced capabilities if the U.S. simply takes our ball and goes home.”