Pompeo: We’ll supply UAE with arms without hurting Israel’s advantage

The US will find a way to balance helping its military ally the United Arab Emirates without weakening Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on Monday.The remarks came amid controversy in Israel over whether Washington will sell F-35 stealth jets to Abu Dhabi, now that Israel and the UAE have diplomatic relations.

“The US has legal requirements with respect to the QME, and we will respect that,” Pompeo said. “We have a 20-plus-year security relationship with the UAE as well.”

Without mentioning F-35s or any other systems by name, Pompeo said the US wants to “make sure we are delivering the equipment [the UAE] needs to defend themselves from the... threat of the Islamic Republic” of Iran.

But he said he is “sure we’ll find a way” to do so while ensuring Israel’s military superiority in the Middle East. (Read More)