Joni Ernst: “The United Arab Emirates is a close partner with whom we have vital cooperation on regional security, counterterrorism…”

“The United Arab Emirates is a close partner with whom we have vital cooperation on regional security, counterterrorism, and Middle East stability. Five thousand American warfighters serve at Al Dhafra Air Base, and UAE has one of the largest U.S. Navy ports in the Middle East. The UAE has used American-supplied military equipment to protect U.S. personnel from Iran and its proxies. The world is seeing the damage Iran-backed chaos can have. And while this administration showed Iran what 'peace through strength' truly means with Operation Midnight Hammer, we cannot forget that Iran's goal is still chaos. They still chant, 'Death to America.' After all, it was not but 6 months ago that Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military personnel. And while their nuclear abilities have been cut off, Iran has again demonstrated reckless behavior to evade sanctions by illegally seizing a Marshal Islands-flagged oil tanker. Applying a blanket ban on the export of U.S. defense articles to the UAE leaves our partners in the region unequipped to deter any act of aggression and sends a message of weakness to our adversaries, like Iran and its terrorist proxies. Meanwhile, it poses an unnecessary risk to U.S. personnel, our personnel in the Middle East.”