Watan-The U.S. government has taken formal action to punish the UAE for its support of terrorist militias by blocking a weapons deal with Abu Dhabi, according to Politico.
According to the report, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee is halting U.S. arms sales to the UAE due to its role in the ongoing civil war in Sudan, based on information from three congressional aides familiar with the plan.
The article states that Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY) has suspended arms sales to the UAE since late last year and plans to announce the halt officially when introducing a bill aimed at taking action against those fueling the war in Sudan.
Human rights organizations and external conflict monitors have accused the UAE of arming and funding militias responsible for committing genocide and war crimes in Sudan.
U.S. Lawmakers Push for Arms Sales Ban to UAE Amid Sudan War Crimes Allegations
Any senior lawmakers from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee or the House Foreign Affairs Committee can impose a weapons sales ban, but it is unclear whether Meeks’ suspension has already halted any arms transfers to the UAE.
It is also uncertain whether President Donald Trump will adhere to the suspension, as he announced a large $7.4 billion arms deal for Israel last month despite Meeks’ request to pause the deal until more information is received. This move broke the precedent of Congress reviewing major military sales.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has resulted in an estimated 150,000 deaths, with around 30 million people in need of food and medical assistance.
The United States has accused both sides of the conflict—the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia—of committing war crimes and atrocities.
Before leaving office, the Biden administration determined that the RSF is committing genocide and accused the Sudanese Armed Forces of using chemical weapons.
The Sudanese civil war has also become a battleground for competing regional powers, with the UAE arming the RSF, while the Sudanese Armed Forces receive support from Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Meeks’ Bill Seeks Stronger U.S. Action on Sudan Conflict, Including Arms Sales Ban
Meeks’ bill aims to push the U.S. to take more effective steps to end the Sudan conflict, including banning the transfer of U.S. military equipment to any country that arms either side of the conflict, according to the aides.
The bill, called the “U.S. Participation in Sudan Peace Act,” includes plans to increase sanctions on the warring parties and allocate funding for a special envoy to Sudan.
The aides requested confidentiality because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The bill’s path to becoming law remains unclear, as Republicans control both the House and Senate, and the new administration has not yet clarified its stance on the Sudanese civil war.
Republicans in both chambers of Congress have previously supported resolutions and bills condemning the war in Sudan, but no major legislation on the conflict has been proposed since Trump entered the White House.
On Thursday, the Sudanese government filed a lawsuit before the International Court of Justice, accusing the UAE of complicity in genocide for its support of the RSF.
Meeks is not the only Democratic lawmaker scrutinizing the UAE’s role in Sudan’s civil war. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Representative Sara Jacobs of California plan to introduce separate legislation on the issue next week.
Van Hollen and Jacobs Push for Arms Sales Ban to UAE Over RSF Support
Van Hollen and Jacobs’ bill explicitly calls for a ban on U.S. arms sales to the UAE due to its support for the RSF.
In the final days of the Biden administration, Van Hollen and Jacobs were informed by U.S. officials that the UAE is supplying the RSF with weapons, directly contradicting assurances given by Abu Dhabi to Washington.
Jacobs stated, “While the UAE is an important partner in the Middle East, the U.S. should not provide weapons to any country benefiting from the atrocities committed by the RSF.”
Van Hollen said in an interview that he plans to take additional steps to block sales, in addition to reviewing arms sales by leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
He added that he plans to introduce a “joint resolution of disapproval,” a legislative procedure that allows Senate leaders to bypass a vote, though it is unlikely to pass with the Republican majority.
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