Senators Move to Block $3.5 Billion Arms Deals With UAE, Qatar Amid Corruption Concerns

A group of U.S. senators on Thursday introduced twin resolutions seeking to halt more than $3.5 billion in planned weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, alleging the deals could personally enrich President Donald Trump and raise serious human-rights risks, as per Al Jazeera.

Democratic Senators Chris Murphy (CT), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Brian Schatz (HI), and Tim Kaine (VA), joined by Independent Senator Bernie Sanders (VT), filed the “resolutions of disapproval,” a legislative mechanism that can force an up-or-down vote on foreign-military-sales packages.

Deals:

• $1.6 billion to the UAE: The State Department this week approved the sale of Chinook helicopters, F-16 components, and spare parts for Apache, Black Hawk, and Chinook fleets.
• $1.9 billion to Qatar: In March, the department approved the sale of MQ-9B Predator drones and related equipment.

Allegations of Financial Conflict

The senators cite what they call a pattern of “corruption of U.S. foreign policy,” pointing to reports that Emirati investment firm MGX plans to channel $2 billion into cryptocurrency exchange Binance using a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, a company backed by the Trump family. Since returning to the White House in January, the president’s relatives have reportedly earned millions from niche digital-currency ventures, including the $TRUMP “meme coin.”

“Foreign governments are trying to buy his favor with a luxury jumbo jet and investments in Trump’s crypto scams,” Murphy said, referring to other perks offered to the administration.

Human-Rights and Security Concerns

Van Hollen warned that U.S. weaponry sent to the UAE could be diverted to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—a paramilitary group accused by international monitors of atrocities in Sudan’s civil war.

“The U.S. should not be delivering weapons to the UAE as it aids and abets this humanitarian disaster,” Van Hollen said.

Qatar’s Jumbo-Jet Offer

The lawmakers also highlighted Qatar’s proposal to lend President Trump a Boeing 747 as a temporary Air Force One—an arrangement critics say would be the most expensive foreign gift ever to a sitting U.S. official. “There’s nothing Donald Trump loves more than being treated like a king,” Murphy said.

Trump dismissed the criticism, blaming delays in Boeing’s new Air Force One program and calling the jet “a gift to the Department of Defense,” not to himself. “I’d be stupid to turn down a free plane,” he told reporters.

Next Steps on Capitol Hill

Under the Arms Export Control Act, the Senate must act quickly once resolutions of disapproval are introduced. With Democrats in control of the chamber, leadership could force the measures to the floor, though passage in both houses and the likelihood of a presidential veto make the ultimate outcome uncertain.

If successful, the resolutions would upend two of the largest Gulf-region arms packages advanced during Trump’s latest term—and signal growing congressional willingness to challenge the administration’s defense-industry priorities when personal financial interests are alleged to be at stake.