US arms sales to the UAE enraged 29 human rights organizations



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Congress opposes the $ 23 billion deal (Getty)

Twenty-nine organizations active in defending human rights and limiting the spread of weapons have signed a letter opposing a $ 23 billion deal to sell missiles, fighter jets and a US march to the United Arab Emirates. United, and urge Congress to prevent its completion.

“Our hope is that we stop these sales altogether … But if that is not possible any time soon, then this sends an important signal to the incoming administration (of President-elect Joe) Biden,” said Seth Binder of the Middle East Democracy. Project that has embraced the effort. That there are a variety of organizations that oppose the handover of these weapons. “

Three members of the United States Senate introduced a bill to stop the deal, which includes drones produced by General Atomics, F-35 fighters produced by (Lockheed Martin) and missiles produced by (Raytheon), in preparation for a confrontation with US President Donald Trump before. A few weeks after leaving the White House.

And it allows US law, which refers senators to important arms deals, to impose a vote on negative decisions. The bill should pass in the Republican-led Senate, which rarely disagrees with Trump, as well as in the Democratic-led House of Representatives.

The letter from the organizations to be sent to lawmakers and the US State Department said: “The planned arms sales to the United Arab Emirates, which is a party to the conflicts in Yemen and Libya, would increase the ongoing damage. to civilians and would exacerbate these humanitarian crises. “

Signatories to the letter include organizations that defend human rights in the region, including the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and the “Mwatana” Human Rights Organization.

And the UAE embassy in Washington commented in a statement to “Reuters”: “The highly capable UAE military is a deterrent to aggression and an effective response to violent extremism, which is closely aligned with American values ​​and interests. “

(Reuters)



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