US Lawmakers Propose Blocking Arms Sales to UAE Over Sudan Crisis

US Lawmakers Seek to Halt Weapons Sales to UAE Amid Sudan Conflict Concerns

US Senator Chris Van Hollen has introduced legislation to block American arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) until the US certifies that the Gulf nation is not supplying weapons to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to an early draft of his announcement seen by Reuters, this move follows allegations linking the UAE to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Senator Van Hollen filed a joint resolution of disapproval in the Senate, while Representative Sara Jacobs filed a corresponding resolution in the House. The endeavor raises awareness of the Sudan crisis, which has been dubbed one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in history, even if it is unlikely to receive broad congressional support given the UAE’s longstanding position as a crucial regional security ally.

“The United States cannot sit idly by as it aids and abets the humanitarian disaster in Sudan – we must use our leverage to try to bring this conflict to a peaceful resolution,” Van Hollen said, underscoring the need for immediate action.

The Legal Framework and Arms Sales Review
Under US law, Congress has the authority to review major arms deals and block them through resolutions of disapproval. While Senate members can compel votes on such resolutions, House members cannot. However, for a resolution to take effect, it must pass both chambers of Congress and withstand a potential presidential vetoHistorically, no resolution of disapproval has successfully passed Congress and survived a presidential veto. Despite this, such efforts often spark intense debates over human rights concerns and dissatisfaction with specific arms deals.

UAE’s History with US Arms Purchases
The UAE purchases a lot of US armaments. The Biden administration authorized a $1.2 billion sale of ATACMS ammunition and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets in October 2023, along with associated support. Lockheed Martin produces ATACMS bombs, while Aerojet Rocketdyne, a division of L3Harris Technologies, produces GMLRS rockets. This arms sale is explicitly intended to be stopped by the recently introduced resolutions by Van Hollen and Jacobs.

President Joe Biden has recognized the UAE as a significant defense partner, and the country hosts the Al Dhafra Air Base, which accommodates thousands of American military personnel and aircraft. Despite these strategic connections, Washington is concerned about claims that the UAE is involved in the current conflict in Sudan.

Sudanese conflict
Due to a delayed transition to democratic elections, the RSF and Sudan’s army went to war in April 2023. Tens of thousands of people have died as a result of the fighting, and the UN estimates that 25 million people, or nearly half of Sudan’s population, need humanitarian relief. Famine conditions are getting worse, and more than 8 million Sudanese have been uprooted.

The RSF has been fighting for 17 months, and the Sudanese army has accused the UAE of providing them with support and weaponry. UN sanctions monitors have characterized assertions of UAE military support for the RSF as credible, despite the UAE’s persistent denials of these charges. Additionally, the Gulf state has denied any role in arming any of the warring forces in Sudan.

“The UAE is one of the biggest outside actors fueling the violence in Sudan, and yet the US is on the brink of selling the UAE another $1.2 billion in weapons that could end up in the hands of the RSF,” Jacobs said, expressing serious concerns about the UAE’s involvement in the conflict while meeting with Sudanese refugees on the Chad border.

Humanitarian Catastrophe and International Pressure
The Sudan conflict has escalated into a dire humanitarian emergency. Millions have fled their homes, and essential resources like food and water are scarce. The United States and the international community face increasing pressure to address the cris. Van Hollen and Jacobs’ resolutions aim to use US leverage in arms sales to pressure the UAE into a more transparent role regarding Sudan.

The proposed resolutions are a critical statement against US engagement in the Sudan crisis, despite the fact that they face substantial obstacles in Congress. Lawmakers intend to spark a resolution to one of the most urgent humanitarian crises in the world by bringing attention to the UAE’s suspected involvement and using arms sales as a negotiating tactic.