The bill trades a temporary pause and added congressional certification on certain UAE arms transfers to lower the risk U.S. equipment reaches Sudan's Rapid Support Forces and increase oversight, at the cost of straining U.S.-UAE security cooperation and causing short-term commercial losses for defense exporters.
U.S. taxpayers and civilians in Sudan: the bill pauses specified U.S.-origin arms transfers to the UAE until the President certifies they will not be diverted to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, reducing the risk that U.S. equipment indirectly reaches that militia.
Congress and the American public: the requirement for presidential certification to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees increases congressional oversight and transparency over arms sales to the UAE.
U.S.-UAE security cooperation partners and regional allies: temporarily suspending approved transfers could strain bilateral security relationships and leave partners relying on UAE capabilities with operational gaps or increased burdens.
U.S. defense exporters and some UAE defense industry partners: pausing sales may cause lost contracts, fees, and short-term economic harm for exporters and intermediaries while the prohibition is in effect.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Stops U.S. sales and export licenses for many U.S. Munitions List defense articles to the UAE until the President certifies the UAE is not supplying materiel support to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces.
Prohibits the President from approving sales or export licenses for a wide range of U.S. defense articles to the United Arab Emirates until the President certifies that the UAE is not providing materiel support to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. The restriction applies immediately on enactment and covers many categories on the U.S. Munitions List, pausing transfers until certification is delivered to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Introduced March 11, 2025 by Sara Jacobs · Last progress March 11, 2025