Hong Kong. December 15th. INTERFAX - US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Wednesday that the United States hopes to continue working on the implementation of agreements on the supply of F-35 fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"We are still ready to move forward if the UAE strives to get both," he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur during a visit to Malaysia.
At the same time, the diplomat said that Washington should be convinced that it primarily guarantees Israel's "qualitative military superiority", and should also "conduct a thorough analysis of any technologies that are sold or transferred to other partners in the region, including the UAE."
Earlier it was reported that the UAE and the United States agreed on the purchase by the Emirates of 50 F-35 aircraft and 18 combat drones worth $23 billion.
However, on the eve of the UAE announced the possibility of withdrawing from the deal, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources from among American officials.
According to the interlocutors of the newspaper, representatives of the UAE informed the American side of their intention to withdraw from the agreement, as they consider the requirements put forward by Washington to ensure the security and protection of high-tech weapons from espionage by China too burdensome.
"US officials acknowledged receiving the message from the UAE and the concern of this country. At the same time, there is growing concern in the United States about China's influence on the UAE, and the conditions put forward are designed to protect the fifth-generation fighter and advanced drones from Chinese espionage," writes The Wall Street Journal.
