In this Sept 19, 2019 photo, an F-35 fighter jet arrives at the Vermont Air National Guard base in South Burlington, Vt.. The United Arab Emirates suspended talks on a $23-billion deal to purchase the American-made F-35 planes, armed drones and other equipment. (WILSON RING / AP)
DOHA/DUBAI/WASHINGTON – The United Arab Emirates has informed the United States that it will suspend discussions to acquire F-35 fighter jets, a UAE official said on Tuesday, part of a $23 billion deal that also includes drones and other advanced munitions.
The UAE will "suspend discussions" on the deal, while meetings between the UAE and the US slated for later this week at the Pentagon will go forward as planned, Al Jazeera reported citing a statement from the Emirati embassy in Washington, D.C.
But discussions for the F-35 deal "may be re-opened in the future," the embassy was quoted as saying.
ALSO READ: As UAE waits for US F-35s, Russia pitches new warplane
"Technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions, and cost/benefit analysis led to the re-assessment," the UAE official said in a statement to Reuters that confirmed a report in the Wall Street Journal.
The UAE had signed an agreement to purchase 50 F-35 jets produced by the US defense giant Lockheed Martin and up to 18 armed drones, said people familiar with the situation
"The US remains the UAE's preferred provider for advanced defense requirements and discussions for the F-35 may be re-opened in the future," the official said, adding there were discussions to "address mutual defense security conditions for the acquisition".
The news about the weapons deal with the UAE was first disclosed by former US president Donald Trump's administration last year.
The UAE, one of Washington’s closest Middle East allies, had long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets, and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal when it agreed to normalize relations with Israel in August 2020.
READ MORE: Israel, UAE to normalize ties, West Bank annexations on hold
A person briefed on the negotiations said for several months sticking points between the US and the UAE revolved around how the stealthy jets can be deployed and how much of the sophisticated F-35 technology the Emiratis will be allowed to take advantage of. The person asked not to be identified by name or by association with either country.
The UAE had signed an agreement to purchase 50 F-35 jets produced by the US defense giant Lockheed Martin and up to 18 armed drones, people familiar with the situation said in January. If the sale is completed, the UAE will become only the second country in the region to own the stealth fighter jets after Israel.
Earlier, at the Pentagon, spokesman John Kirby had said the US partnership with the UAE was more strategic and complex than a weapons sale and Washington was committed to working with Abu Dhabi to address their questions.
"We will always insist, as a matter of statutory requirements and policy, on a variety of end use requirements," Kirby said.
He added that a meeting between US and UAE officials at the Pentagon later this week was set to be about broad topics but anticipated that the weapons sale would come up.
Kirby referred questions about details of specific arms sales to the State Department.
A State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the Biden administration was committed to the proposed sales of the F-35 aircraft along with the MQ-9B and munitions. "We are hopeful that we can work through any outstanding issues," said the official.
Lockheed Martin Corp referred requests for comment to the US and UAE governments.