US May Announce Fighter Sales to Qatar Kuwait As Obama Visits This Week

U.S. Poised to Approve Boeing Fighter Jet Sales to Qatar, Kuwait (excerpt)

WASHINGTON --- The U.S. government is poised to approve two long-delayed sales of Boeing Co fighter jets to Qatar and Kuwait, and could announce the multibillion-dollar deals during President Barack Obama's visit to the Gulf this week, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Both deals have been stalled amid concerns raised by Israel that equipment sent to Gulf states could fall into the wrong hands and be used against it, and by the Obama administration's broader decision-making on military aid to the Gulf.

However, the Pentagon and the State Department both have signed off on the sale of some 36 F-15 fighter jets to Qatar and 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to Kuwait, both built by Boeing. The White House is expected to follow suit shortly.

The sale to Kuwait is worth about $3 billion and the one to Qatar is probably close to $4 billion, sources familiar with the matter said.

"The last hurdle now is getting approval from the National Security Council and the White House," said one of the sources.

The Pentagon had no immediate comment.

A senior Obama administration official said it was the administration's policy not to comment on potential arm sales until it has formally notified Congress of an intent to sell something.

But, the official said, the United States is committed to the security and stability of the Gulf region and defense sales "fit into the overall U.S. regional diplomatic strategy." (end of excerpt)

Click here for the full story, on the Reuters website.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The State Department and the DSCA have not yet publicly announced their approval of the two proposed sales mentioned above.)

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