Sponsors (36)
The bill trades stronger U.S. leverage and a reduced risk that U.S. weapons fuel conflict or abuses in Sudan for economic losses to the defense sector, potential strain on U.S.–UAE security cooperation, and some additional taxpayer costs.
Military personnel, regional partners, and civilians in Sudan face a lower risk that sophisticated U.S. weapons transferred to the UAE will be used to fuel fighting or threaten U.S. forces because transfers are halted until the UAE stops supporting the RSF.
U.S. negotiators and state-level policymakers gain leverage over the UAE by conditioning defense transfers on a certification, creating leverage to discourage UAE support for the RSF.
Civilians at risk of abuses benefit because stopping transfers of advanced defense articles reduces the chance U.S.-origin weapons contribute to human rights violations in Sudan.
U.S. defense firms, their employees, and related suppliers could lose export sales and jobs while the prohibition on transfers is in effect.
Halting planned transfers may strain U.S.–UAE relations and complicate cooperation on regional security priorities (e.g., counterterrorism, basing access), potentially reducing broader U.S. strategic options in the region.
U.S. taxpayers could incur additional diplomatic, monitoring, and enforcement costs to verify UAE compliance with the certification requirement and manage the policy's implementation.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bars sales or export licenses for a broad set of US Munitions List defense items to the UAE until the President certifies the UAE is not providing materiel support to Sudan's RSF.
Official title: To prohibit the issuance of licenses for the exportation of certain defense articles to the United Arab Emirates, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 11, 2025 by Sara Jacobs · Last progress March 11, 2025
Prohibits the sale or licensing of many categories of U.S. defense articles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) until the President certifies that the UAE is not providing materiel support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. The ban covers a broad set of items on the United States Munitions List and takes effect upon enactment, with an exception only after a written certification to two congressional committees.