In a significant development, the Trump administration has announced plans to proceed with arms sales exceeding $8 billion to Israel, a decision made just two days after President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This action has drawn attention for bypassing an informal review process involving Congress that was still underway.
The State Department communicated this intention on Thursday, indicating its commitment to advance the sales despite ongoing discussions in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The weapons package includes 3,000 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles valued at $660 million and an additional $6.75 billion worth of bombs and guidance kits. Notably, the sale of artillery shells, being a direct commercial transaction, did not necessitate a formal announcement from the Pentagon.
Originally, the Biden administration had unveiled the $8 billion arms deal in January, forwarding the comprehensive package for informal evaluation by congressional committees. Initially, key Republican members offered their endorsement, and a Democratic senator also expressed support. However, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the Democratic leader on the committee, opted to leverage the review period to raise further inquiries regarding the deal's details.
Despite Mr. Meeks’ concerns and efforts to obtain thorough insights from the administration, he found both silence and a lack of substantial documentation addressing his questions. Following the formal notification from the State Department and the expiration of the typical 20-day review window, the administration’s momentum to finalize the arms sales appears unimpeded, given that a two-thirds congressional vote would be required to halt the orders.
In a statement, Mr. Meeks articulated his ongoing support for Israel's military needs, acknowledging the various threats the nation faces. However, he simultaneously criticized what he perceives as an erosion of established Congressional authority, underscoring the disregard for traditional protocol in facilitating such significant arms transfers.
As this situation unfolds, it raises critical questions about U.S. foreign policy dynamics under the Trump administration, particularly the implications of circumventing legislative oversight in defense transactions. Edward Wong reports on global affairs, providing insight into the intersections of U.S. foreign policy and international relations.
