Negotiations to Sell F-35 Jets to the U.A.E. Could Re-start During IDEX 2023

The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and the U.S. could re-start negotiations over sale of F-35 fighter jets when delegations from both countries meet during the IDEX 2023 defense exhibition starting next week in Abu Dhabi.

The U.S. and the U.A.E. negotiated a $23 billion deal including up to 50 F-35 fighter jets, 18 MQ-9 reaper drones and advanced munitions in 2000 which was put on hold in December 2021.

Abu Dhabi had pulled out of talks to buy the F-35 citing "technical requirements, sovereign operations conditions and cost/benefit analysis." However, a U.S. official had told Reuters then, "discussions for the F-35 may be re-opened in the future," and that there were discussions to "address mutual defense security conditions for the acquisition."

However conditions that stifled the deal an year ago may have changed now creating a more amiable atmosphere for the discussions to continue.

Huawei case:

While it was then reported that the U.S. wanted the U.A.E. to end its relationship with China's Huawei to whom it had awarded a 5G telecom services contract, the contract has since been implemented and Huawei has secured follow-on contracts including one for 5G cloud edge applications for sectors such as industry, entertainment, education, retail and others.

A source familiar with the developments told Defense Mirror, "with 5G services of Huawei going strong in the U.A.E., the deal may be pretty much irreversible. If anything, the two sides will have to find a work-around to address Washington's concern regarding any impact of Huawei's 5G services on the operation of the F-35 jets."

U.S.- GCC Working Groups on Air and Missile Defense and Maritime Security

Indications that the two sides were addressing defense acquisition issues were available during a meeting of GCC countries (of which the U.A.E. is a member) with the U.S. in Riyadh on February 13, 2023.

According to a Pentagon statement, "senior officials of the United States and the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened the latest round of U.S.-GCC Working Groups on Integrated Air and Missile Defense and Maritime Security. The meeting built on progress made during the March 9, 2022 Working Groups, when the United States and the GCC developed a common vision for deterring the most pressing air, missile, and maritime threats to regional security and stability."