Senators Demand Halt of $3.5bn Arms Sales to U.A.E. and Qatar Over Alleged Corruption Involving Trump Family
In a significant move, a coalition of United States Senators, comprising Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, Brian Schatz, Tim Kaine, and independent Senator Bernie Sanders, is pushing to halt the $3.5 billion in military equipment sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. This opposition is rooted in deep concerns that these sales could lead to personal benefits for President Donald Trump’s family, suggesting that these transactions could be veneers for a ‘corruption of US foreign policy’.
The controversy centers on two major defence deals endorsed by the Department of State: a $1.6 billion contract with the UAE for Chinook helicopters, F-16 aircraft components, and repair parts for Apache, Black Hawk, and Chinook helicopters; and a $1.9 billion sale to Qatar of MQ-9B Predator drones and associated equipment. Introducing “resolutions of disapproval,” the Senators argue that these deals might cater to the Trump family’s interests, as the Emirati investment firm MGX plans to finance a $2 billion investment in the cryptocurrency exchange Binance using a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency backed by the Trump family.
Beyond the financial aspects, the Senators worry about the broader implications of these arms sales. Specifically, there is a concern that the US weaponry supplied to the UAE might be redirected to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has reportedly received support from the UAE and been implicated in Sudan’s civil war. Senators also take issue with Qatar’s offer of a Boeing 747 as a temporary substitute for Air Force One for President Trump, which, if accepted, would mark the most expensive gift ever given between a foreign government and a US government official. This gesture has drawn bipartisan criticism due to its perceived intent to curry favor with the President.
Senator Van Hollen succinctly highlighted the humanitarian dimension, stating that the US should not supply arms to the UAE while it allegedly supports humanitarian abuses in Sudan. Meanwhile, Senator Murphy criticized the situation, asserting that foreign governments are unlawfully attempting to gain favor with President Trump through lavish gifts and investments in his cryptocurrency schemes.
In response to these accusations and the offer of the aircraft, President Trump advised against viewing the Boeing 747 as a personal gift, instead framing it as a donation to the Department of Defense. However, this move has nonetheless drawn severe scrutiny and is anticipated to face a firestorm of opposition in Congress. The Senators’ “resolutions of disapproval” could soon become the focal point of a Senate vote, determined to challenge what they deem to be a blatant case of foreign government influence and corruption intricately linked to the Trump family’s financial interests.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/16/us-senators-seek-to-block-trumps-uae-qatar-defence-deals?traffic_source=rss
