As President Donald Trump embarks on his journey to the Middle East, the State Department announced on Monday the approval of approximately $1.4 billion in military equipment sales to the United Arab Emirates, which is the third nation he will visit during his trip.
The UAE intends to acquire six CH-47F Chinook helicopters for a cost of $1.32 billion, along with parts and maintenance services for F-16 fighter jets estimated at $130 million.
Trump, who departed from Washington on Monday, is also scheduled to meet with leaders in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In discussions over the weekend, officials from the US and Qatar confirmed that they are contemplating an arrangement for Qatar to provide a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet to serve as Air Force One.
Earlier on Monday, the president mentioned that he would not be using the aircraft following his time in office.
The State Department conveyed that it had sent the necessary certification to Congress concerning the proposed arms sales to the UAE, asserting that this decision would “bolster the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing the security of a key regional ally.”
The department noted that these helicopters, produced by Boeing and equipped with engines from Honeywell International Inc., would enable the UAE to conduct “search and rescue operations, disaster relief efforts, humanitarian aid missions, and counterterrorism activities.”