UAE: After the US demanded curbs on Abu Dhabi's ties with China, the UAE has suspended a USD 23 billion fighter jet contract. According to sources, the UAE has informed the US that it will halt talks on acquiring F-35 fighter fighters as part of a USD23 billion contract that also includes drones and other advanced armaments.
The sale of 50 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets to the UAE has stalled due to worries in Washington about Abu Dhabi's connection with China, notably the country's use of Huawei 5G technology.
'The re-assessment was prompted by technical constraints, sovereign operational restrictions, and a cost-benefit analysis,' according to a UAE official. Meanwhile, Emirati authorities claim constraints on how and where the F-35s can be used are a violation of the UAE's sovereignty, which they blame on American demands.
During the tumultuous US pullout from Afghanistan earlier this year, the country collaborated with the US on counterterrorism and allowed refugees leaving the country to enter. However, tensions between Washington and Abu Dhabi have escalated as a result of the UAE's increasing collaboration with China, according to the article.
A top Emirati ambassador admitted last week that the UAE has halted building of a Chinese facility at an Abu Dhabi port that the US considered a military installation.
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