{"id":20978,"date":"2020-09-22T21:19:58","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T21:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/22\/amidst-f-35-to-uae-rumors-esper-pledges-to-support-israeli-edge\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:56:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:56:01","slug":"amidst-f-35-to-uae-rumors-esper-pledges-to-support-israeli-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2020\/09\/22\/amidst-f-35-to-uae-rumors-esper-pledges-to-support-israeli-edge\/","title":{"rendered":"Amidst F-35 to UAE rumors, Esper pledges to support Israeli edge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Amidst expectations that the U.S. will sell F-35 joint strike fighters<\/a> to the United Arab Emirates, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to maintain Israel\u2019s qualitative military edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe defense relationship between the United States and Israel has never been stronger. We intend to keep it that way,\u201d Esper said in pooled comments ahead of a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do want to say upfront for everyone that a cornerstone of our defense relationship is preserving Israel\u2019s qualitative military edge in the region,\u201d Esper added. \u201cThe United States is committed to that and the Department of Defense is committed to that imperative. We will continue to support the longstanding U.S. policy to maintain Israel\u2019s security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel\u2019s QME is a congressionally mandated rule that, in essence, says Israel needs to maintain a military technology edge over its neighbors. The rationale for the language is that Israel, as a small nation surrounded by hostile states, needs an extra edge from its U.S. partner to survive. In essence, this has meant certain high-end weapons will not be allowed to be sold to states in the region, most notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That seems to have changed for the Emirates, however, in the wake of a new agreement normalizing relations<\/a> between the UAE and Israel. Immediately reports surfaced that F-35 sales to the UAE are forthcoming, with President Donald Trump saying earlier this month that \u201cI would have no problem in selling them the F-35, I would have absolutely no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UAE has eyed the possibility of buying the F-35, America\u2019s newest fighter jet, for years. While potential sales of the jet to the UAE or Saudi Arabia were largely seen as a long-shot because of objections from Israel, there was some hope in the UAE that strong support for increasing arms sales abroad would open the doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\t