Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar has taken a strong stand against the Biden administration’s approval of multimillion-dollar U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as reported by Newsweek on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
Omar’s move represents a notable shift in her position, challenging the administration’s decision and raising concerns about potential rifts within the Democratic Party.
The authorized arms sales were linked to U.S. efforts aimed at preventing a larger conflict in the Middle East, particularly focusing on the Red Sea region amidst threats posed by the Iran-backed Houthi group. The U.S. spearheads the Guardian of Prosperity operation, a coalition involving 12 nations, with the goal of curbing military activities in the Red Sea following attacks on commercial shipping along the Yemeni coast.
The legislation proposed by Omar targets pre-approved determinations by the U.S. State Department. It includes plans to upgrade Saudi Arabia’s drone surveillance system, valued at around $582 million, and to supply radar systems and rockets to the UAE, estimated at $85 million.
In a statement, Omar stressed that these sales contradict American values and undermine efforts for peace and human rights. She specifically criticized Saudi Arabia for its human rights record, citing over 170 executions in the past year, some reportedly for social media posts.
Furthermore, Omar condemned the UAE for violating the UN arms embargo in Darfur and supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), labeled by the State Department as responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. She also highlighted the UAE’s involvement in supplying arms to the Ethiopian government, accused of atrocities in Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia.
This recent action by Omar aligns with her previous attempts in November 2021 to halt a $650 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia, citing concerns about human rights violations fueling a severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
While the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense, approved the Saudi sale, Omar’s legislative push reflects growing discontentment challenging the U.S. strategic alliance with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, branding them as autocratic regimes acting against U.S. interests.
Experts, including Jon Hoffman from the Cato Institute, view Omar’s initiative as a positive step. They argue that both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, given their questionable human rights records, pose more risks than benefits to U.S. interests.
Omar’s unexpected move to block arms sales approved by the Biden administration introduces a new layer of complexity to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. It highlights internal divisions within the Democratic Party and amplifies ongoing debates regarding arms sales to countries with contentious human rights records. As the legislation progresses, its impact on diplomatic relations and the broader geopolitical landscape in the region remains to be observed.