DUBAI, (Reuters) – Wednesday’s statement by the United States indicated that they are ready to sell F-35 fighter aircraft and drones to UAE after Abu Dhabi threatened to halt talks with Washington on the $23billion deal.

After the UAE established ties last year with Israel, the deal was signed by then-President Donald Trump. However, progress had been slowed due to concerns from Washington about the Gulf Arab states’ ties with China. China is a major trade partner.

According to a UAE official, “The UAE informed the U.S. it has suspended discussions to purchase the F-35,” Reuters reported on Tuesday. The UAE cited “technical requirements”, sovereign operational limitations, and cost/benefit analyses” as reasons for the re-assessment.

Officials said that talks might be reopened and there was discussion to “address mutual defence security conditions for the acquisition.”

U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken spoke in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday to say that Washington must conduct reviews, but is ready to continue with the sale.

Blinken stated that they wanted to ensure, “for example, that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge. Therefore, we had to review any technology that was sold or transferred to partners in the region including the UAE.”

UAE signed an agreement to buy 50 F-35 stealthy planes manufactured by Lockheed Martin Sources told Reuters that Reuters had received 18 MQ-9B drones, and other advanced munitions in January.

One person who was briefed about the negotiations stated that the sticking points between America and UAE were around deployment and use of F-35 technology.

An Emirati official stated that the United States of America, upon which the security frameworks of the Gulf Arab States are heavily dependent, is “remains” the UAE’s preferred provider in advanced defense needs.

John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesperson (NYSE 🙂 stated that earlier the U.S. relationship with UAE was more complex than a weapon sale. Washington also committed to working closely with Abu Dhabi in order to resolve its issues.

Kirby declared, “We will always insist on, as a rule of statutory requirements, and policy, on various end use requirements.”

He expected that the issue of the arms sale would be raised at a Pentagon meeting between U.S. officials and UAE officials later in the week.