Trump invokes emergency powers with $23 billion in Gulf arms sales
US President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (not pictured) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington DC, USA, on July 14, 2025, on the same day he announced a deal to supply arms to NATO.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
The Trump administration has continued arms sales worth nearly $23 billion to three Gulf states to bolster their defenses as the Middle East war continues to escalate with no sign of resolution.
government approved gun sales U.S. officials familiar with the decision are directed at the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
This includes more than $16 billion for air defense systems, ammunition and radar equipment for three Middle Eastern countries announced on Thursday, as well as an additional $7 billion in weapons for the UAE, according to the report. The latter was approved through channels that are not required to be made public under U.S. arms export rules, according to the Journal.
The temporary arms sale, aimed at strengthening the Gulf countries’ military capabilities, comes as Iran expands its attacks on various energy infrastructure facilities in the region in response to Israel’s attacks on gas facilities this week.
The proposed sale is based on the countries “meet current and future threats” The State Department stated in its statements that they will further enhance their interoperability with the US Joint Forces and other regional forces.
The administration also expanded some previously agreed-upon deals to include the sale of Patriot PAC-3 missiles worth about $5.6 billion and CH-47 Chinook helicopters worth about $1.32 billion, according to the Journal. The US also approved $37 million for Predator XP drone sales and sustainment programs for light aircraft.
For some agreements, the report found, the American government used the emergency clause of the US arms control law, a mechanism that allows the executive branch to move forward without the standard 30-day congressional review period.
