Biden set to unfreeze Trump-era multi-billion F-35 deal — RT

 Washington is set to go ahead with a multi-billion dollar warplane sale to the United Arab Emirates, a deal first inked by ex-President Donald Trump but frozen for review, including over concerns about the UAE’s role in Yemen.

The Joe Biden administration remains “fully committed” to the $23 billion F-35 deal to the gulf state, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Regional Security Mira Resnick told the Associated Press on Tuesday, saying the sale would be a “game changer” for the Emiratis.

“The F-35 is already in this region, whether it’s Israelis flying the F-35, whether it’s [the] American F-35,” said Resnick, who helps oversee international arms transfers.

    We would like the UAE to be able to operate the F-35 in a way that [they] can be our security partners and to deter threats, including from Iran.

The official noted that the Biden team is still working with Emirati counterparts to hammer out “clarifications to the various assurances that were made to the previous administration,” though did not elaborate on what that would mean for the sale.