WASHINGTON, MAR 30: State Dept formally approves over $16.5bn arms sales to three Middle Eastern countries. The United States has approved over $16.5 billion in arms sales to key Middle Eastern allies, with an additional $7 billion in previously undisclosed deals for the UAE.
The move comes as the ongoing Iran war intensifies, triggering regional instability and rising energy prices.
The Trump administration has approved approximately $7 billion worth of weapons for the United Arab Emirates that were not publicly disclosed, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
These unannounced deals include Patriot PAC-3 missiles valued at about $5.6 billion and CH-47 Chinook helicopters worth around $1.32 billion.
US officials said the sales were not publicly announced because they were expansions of previously agreed arms deals, allowing them to bypass standard disclosure rules.
$16.5bn arms package for Gulf allies
In addition to the undisclosed deals, the US State Department formally approved potential arms sales exceeding $16.5 billion to three Middle Eastern countries.
The UAE is set to receive the largest share, with over $8.4 billion in approved military equipment, including missiles, drones, radar systems, and F-16 munitions and upgrades.
Kuwait could receive lower-tier air and missile defense sensor radars worth an estimated $8 billion, while Jordan is approved for aircraft and munitions support valued at $70.5 million.
Advanced defense systems, contractors
The largest single deal within the package is Kuwait’s $8 billion radar system, designed to track high-speed targets and integrate with missile defense networks.
The UAE’s share includes a $4.5 billion long-range discrimination radar system to detect ballistic missile threats, along with $2.1 billion in anti-drone systems.
It also includes $1.22 billion worth of advanced air-to-air missiles and $644 million in F-16 upgrades and munitions. Key US defense contractors involved in these deals include RTX Corporation, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin Corporation.
Emergency declaration bypasses Congress
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the sales under an emergency provision, stating that urgent conditions required immediate action.
He “determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists,” allowing the administration to waive the usual requirement for congressional approval.
The approvals come amid escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, now nearing three weeks. Iran has retaliated against US-Israeli strikes with missile and drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure and Gulf countries, causing casualties and widespread damage.
These attacks have forced regional allies to use significant military resources to defend themselves.
Global energy markets impact
The intensifying conflict has disrupted energy supplies, contributing to a surge in gas and oil prices. Iran’s strikes on energy infrastructure followed Israeli attacks on its gas facilities, marking one of the most serious escalations in the ongoing war.
The situation has heightened concerns over regional security and global economic stability.
