White House threatens vetoes of Middle East arms sales bans

The Trump administration is opposing joint congressional resolutions that would bar billions of dollars in weapon sales to Qatar and Bahrain, threatening vetoes if lawmakers pass them.

On the proposed Qatar sales, a White House statement of administration policy reads:

"This joint resolution relates to $3 billion in Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Qatar for twenty-four AH-64E Apache Attack helicopters. This package is intended for the sovereign defense of Qatar, which is host to United States Central Command forces and serves as a critical forward-deployed location in the region. In addition to the military personnel in Qatar, more than 15,000 United States citizens live on the Qatar Peninsula. The FMS case at issue supports the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important partner for political and economic progress in the Middle East. This FMS transaction will enhance long-term defensive and offensive capabilities on the Qatar Peninsula, as well as the protection of key oil and gas infrastructure and platforms. By supporting thousands of American jobs, this FMS transaction also helps to strengthen the United States defense industrial base and promotes economic security.

"In addition to negatively affecting our bilateral relationship with Qatar, the joint resolution would significantly hinder interoperability between our nations. Qatar serves as a bulwark against Iran and its nefarious activities throughout the region, and it partners with the United States to counter al-Qa'ida and ISIS."

As for Bahrain, a separate statement of administration policy reads:

"This joint resolution relates to $750 million in Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Bahrain for a weapons package that supports the F-16 Block 70/F-16V Aircraft fleet. This package is intended for the sovereign defense of Bahrain, which is home to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, the forward-deployed U.S. Marine Central Command, Combined Maritime Force, and more than 17,000 United States citizens. The FMS case at issue will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO partner and important security partner in the region. Among other things, Bahrain supports United States activities and priorities related to anti-piracy efforts in the Arabian and Red Seas, and is an important partner in countering Iran's nefarious activities and in countering al-Qa'ida and ISIS throughout the region. By helping to support thousands of jobs across 41 States, this FMS transaction also promotes United States economic security and strengthens our defense industrial base.

"S.J. Res. 20 would negatively affect the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain."