Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Glen Flanagan. But the latest Saudi move has given the lie to these claims. It provides yet another urgent prompt to rethink U. The administration needs to address a number of key issues if U. The key policy consideration is how to restrict sales to those that will help allies defend themselves without provoking arms races or increasing the prospects for conflict.
Of particular note, the Australia-UK-U. Aid designed to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia has proceeded at the most rapid pace of any U. But the United States has failed to offer an accompanying diplomatic strategy aimed at ending the war before it evolves into a long, grinding conflict or escalates into a direct U.
Finally, Washington needs to take steps to ensure that the financial interests of a handful of weapons contractors do not drive critical U. A number of policy measures can be taken to increase the prospects that major sales will serve broader U. Without this level of information, it is virtually impossible for Congress or the public to fully assess the risks and consequences of U. Issues addressed include the role of U. The role of weapons contractors in shaping β and profiting from β U. The paper concludes with recommendations on how to improve U.
On arms sales, the Biden administration has shown more continuity than change relative to the policies of the prior two administrations. The potential impacts of sales to each of these nations are outlined below. This means that deals offered under one administration may have had their roots in a prior one.
However, the specific offers to the countries cited above received final sign off during the Biden years, meaning that the administration can and should be held accountable for the potential impact of these sales. The analysis of the impacts of arms sales is further complicated by the differences in the two main channels of arms supply β government-to-government sales under the Foreign Military Sales FMS program and Direct Commercial Sales DCS licensed by the State Department. FMS offers give the U.
