NYCFPA Files Complaint in US District Court Against US Department of State to Block Sale of F-35 Aircraft to the United Arab Emirates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 30, 2020

NYCFPA Files Complaint in US District Court Against US Department of State to Block Sale of F-35 Aircraft to the United Arab Emirates 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs (NYCFPA) filed a lawsuit in the US District Court in Washington, DC against the Department of State and Secretary Mike Pompeo. The complaint is in regards to their swift approval of an arms transaction with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that contains F-35s. Earlier this month, Congress could not pass legislation to block the arms distribution. Due to our grave concern about the stability in the Middle East, we feel obligated to speak out and continue to advocate for peace in the region. When we, as an organization, believe that unprecedented circumstances have presented themselves that affect the United States’ national security, we feel compelled to step in to address the key players who are making a path to peace difficult, in this case, in the Middle Eastern region.

The UAE’s consistent antagonism in the region makes the development of our relationship with the nation questionable with a lack of vigor at that moment, and such a substantial trade should not be considered lightly with a small timeline of fewer than two months. The UAE’s evident relations with China and Russia will put our military intelligence advantage at risk if such a deal is approved. There is no guarantee or provision that prevents them from sharing this proprietary knowledge. Before such advancement of weaponry to the UAE, the American people must be confident that we can trust countries like the UAE not to cause unrest in the region. NYCFPA has proven earnestly why such a deal should not be granted, especially with the administration’s lack of reasoning for such a consequential agreement.

Justin Russell, the NYCFPA’s Principal Director, states, “With this deal going forward, the U.S. is setting a baseline for a very dangerous proliferation of weapons in the region and is enabling an arms race to start in the Middle East.” Russell adds, “NYCFPA also calls on the incoming Biden administration to reconsider this deal for the benefit of peace in the region.”

About the New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs (NYCFPA): NYCFPA is a policy, research, and educational organization headquartered in New York State with an office in Washington D.C. NYCFPA is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, institution devoted to conducting in-depth research and analysis on every aspect of American foreign policy and its impact around the world. Our mission is to be an educational resource for policy makers and foreign policy leaders to best promote American interests and values around the world.

For media inquiries, please contact Justin Russell at (202) 696-4740; justin.russell@nycfpa.org.

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