Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, May 2: The administration of Donald Trump has approved over $8.6 billion in military sales to key Middle East allies, invoking emergency powers to bypass the usual congressional review process.

According to the US State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio authorised the move citing an “emergency,” allowing the deals to proceed without standard legislative oversight.

The approved packages include a $4.01 billion agreement with Qatar for support of Patriot air and missile defence systems, along with an additional $992.4 million for Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS). Kuwait will receive an integrated battle command system worth $2.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have been cleared to procure APKWS valued at $992.4 million and $147.6 million respectively.

Major defence contractors involved in the deals include BAE Systems, RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions following the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has persisted for weeks despite a fragile ceasefire.

Washington stated that the arms transfers are intended to strengthen the defensive capabilities of its regional partners in the face of continuing security challenges.

However, the decision to bypass Congress has drawn scrutiny, as US law typically mandates legislative review of major foreign military sales. The use of emergency authority to avoid this process is rare and often controversial.

At the same time, US military and political support for Israel continues to face global attention, particularly over the humanitarian impact of the Gaza conflict. While Israel maintains its actions are in self-defence, critics, including rights groups and UN bodies, have raised concerns over civilian casualties and humanitarian consequences.

The move underscores Washington’s continued strategic commitment to its Middle East allies amid escalating instability and economic fallout linked to ongoing conflicts.