State approves nearly $4 billion FMS to Bahrain

The State Department approved nearly $4 billion in foreign military sales to Bahrain last week, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The sales -- announced by DSCA in four separate notices on Sept. 8 -- include 19 F-16V aircraft and associated support estimated to cost $2.785 billion. State also approved the upgrade of Bahrain's existing fleet of 20 F-16 Block 40 aircraft to the F-16V configuration, which is expected to cost $1.082 billion, according to the notice.

The State Department also approved the possible sale of two 35-meter fast patrol boats with associated weaponry and support at an anticipated $60.25 million cost, as well as the potential sale of 221 TOW missiles of different variants with an expected price tag of $27 million, according to notices posted online.

Under President Trump, the State Department has dropped the Obama administration's policy of conditioning arms transfers to Bahrain on improved human rights conditions, Bloomberg reported earlier this year. Prior to the latest slate of approved sales, the State Department had not approved an FMS to Bahrain since August 2015, according to the DSCA website.

The State Department documented numerous human rights concerns for Bahrain in its 2016 Human Rights Report, including limitation on citizens' ability to choose their government, freedom of expression and a lack of due process in the legal system.

In a Sept. 8 email, a State Department official wrote the recently approved sales to Bahrain further U.S. national security interests, as the country plays "a key role in the Gulf's security architecture as host to the U.S. Fifth Fleet and is a member of the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition."

"We continue to urge the Government of Bahrain to pursue reconciliation and advance reform efforts for the benefit of Bahrain’s long term security and our mutual interest in regional stability," the official said.