US Approves $23 Billion Arms Sales to Gulf Allies

The United States Department of State approved approximately $23 billion in military sales to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan to bolster regional security amid an intensifying war with Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked emergency powers to bypass the standard 30-day congressional review period, citing a national security emergency.

The total package consists of a $16.5 billion announcement and a separate $7 billion deal for the UAE. Kuwait is slated for $8 billion in lower-tier air and missile defense sensor radars, while Jordan will receive $70.5 million for aircraft repair and munitions. The UAE's total acquisitions exceed $15 billion, including Patriot PAC-3 missiles, CH-47 Chinook helicopters, Predator XP drones, and F-16 upgrades.

These measures follow a February 28 U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran, which triggered retaliatory Iranian strikes on energy infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, as well as the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. In the wake of these attacks, which included a drone strike that killed six American soldiers in Kuwait, the Department of Defense is seeking an additional $200 billion from Congress to fund the conflict.

While President Donald Trump denied plans to deploy ground forces, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel acted unilaterally in striking Iran's South Pars gas field. Netanyahu asserted that Iran can no longer enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles, though he noted that President Trump asked Israel to hold off on future attacks.