Massive US Arms Deals Worth $8.6 Billion Approved for Middle East Allies

WASHINGTON (Web Desk) – The United States State Department has approved military sales exceeding $8.6 billion for key Middle Eastern allies including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Israel, amid ongoing regional tensions and shifting defence priorities.

According to the State Department, the approvals include major defence systems and advanced weapons packages, with Qatar receiving Patriot air and missile defence replenishment services worth $4.01 billion along with Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) valued at $992.4 million.

Kuwait has been cleared to receive an integrated battle command system worth $2.5 billion, while Israel’s approved package includes APKWS worth $992.4 million. The United Arab Emirates will also receive APKWS under a $147.6 million deal.

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The principal contractors named in the agreements include RTX, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems, which will supply various components ranging from missile defence systems to precision-guided weapons.

The approvals come as the US and Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran enters its ninth week, with a fragile ceasefire in place for just over three weeks. The conflict has intensified demand for missile defence systems across the region as allies face repeated missile and drone attacks.

Meanwhile, reports suggest Washington has also warned several European allies, including the United Kingdom, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia, to expect delays in US weapons deliveries due to depleted stockpiles caused by the sustained military engagement in the region.