U.S. lawmakers are attempting to block arms sales to the UAE over claims it supplies weapons to Sudan’s RSF. The UAE denies these allegations, maintaining its focus on humanitarian efforts in Sudan. The ongoing conflict has caused vast suffering among civilians, prompting U.S. legislators to spotlight the humanitarian disaster and advocate for a cessation of arms trades with the UAE.
Two U.S. lawmakers are advocating for the suspension of arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), having determined that the UAE has been supplying weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan amidst an ongoing civil war. Despite their claims, officials from the UAE vehemently deny these allegations. The conflict in Sudan, which has exacerbated humanitarian crises, was sparked by tensions between the Sudanese army and the RSF, following their initial cooperation during a coup in 2021.
Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representative Sara Jacobs, both from the Democratic Party, base their accusations upon insights from former President Biden’s administration, supplemented by their own research. They expressed the view that while the UAE is an important ally in the Middle East, the U.S. must address the ramifications of its actions in Sudan. “The UAE has continued arming the RSF – ensuring this war and this devastation goes on,” asserted Jacobs.
The UAE’s focus in Sudan has been framed as addressing the humanitarian crisis and advocating for a ceasefire. A UAE official emphasized that the country has made clear it does not supply any support or materials to either faction involved in the conflict. This statement challenges the U.S. lawmakers’ assertions regarding the UAE’s involvement.
Under U.S. law, any major arms transactions require congressional review, allowing Senate members to prompt votes on resolutions to disapprove such sales. While House members cannot initiate such votes, they must work with their Senate colleagues to unite against the arms sales effectively. The Biden administration had pledged to deliver an assessment to Congress regarding UAE commitments by a specific date, although the timing was affected by the transition to Trump’s presidency.
The UAE has historically been a significant buyer of American arms and was recently authorized for a $1.2 billion potential sale of advanced munitions such as GMLRS and ATACMS systems. Legislators Van Hollen and Jacobs initiated a bill in November to obstruct this sale, although they recognize that it is unlikely to gain substantial traction within Congress due to the longstanding strategic partnership between the U.S. and UAE. Their initiatives aim to spotlight one of the dire humanitarian crises affecting the global community.
The situation in Sudan has become increasingly dire since the outbreak of conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023. This war has resulted in widespread hunger among the civilian population, prompting international scrutiny of the parties involved. The U.S. has a vested interest in addressing these humanitarian concerns, particularly with the UAE’s role in supplying arms to one of the conflicting factions. Lawmakers aim to utilize their legislative power to influence U.S. arms sales to the UAE, hoping to mitigate the ongoing violence in Sudan.
U.S. lawmakers Chris Van Hollen and Sara Jacobs are actively seeking to halt arms sales to the UAE, citing its support for the RSF amid the Sudanese civil war. While the UAE denies these allegations and emphasizes humanitarian efforts, the U.S. legislators believe that cutting off arms supplies could stabilize Sudan. Despite the prospects of limited congressional support, their efforts are aimed at drawing attention to the significant humanitarian crises resulting from the ongoing conflict.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
