US agrees to sell Abrams tanks to Bahrain worth $2bln
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The United States agrees to sell Bahrain advanced Abrams tanks valued at $2.2 billion, nearly two months after Manama joined "Operation Prosperity Guardian," which backs "Israel" against Yemen.
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The US State Department sign was used as a backdrop at the State Department in Washington on August 10, 2006. (AP)
The United States has agreed to sell Bahrain advanced Abrams tanks valued at $2.2 billion, as announced by the US State Department.
The State Department notified Congress Tuesday of its approval to sell Bahrain 50 M1A2 Abrams tanks.
.@StateDept 🇺🇸 authorizes a Foreign Military Sales #FMS case to🇧🇠#Bahrain for M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks and related equipment with an estimated cost of $2.2 billion #FMSUpdate-https://t.co/zmSc09Hl9t pic.twitter.com/2lgpTGLC1l
— Political-Military Affairs, US Dept of State (@StateDeptPM) March 19, 2024
The statement from the US State Department highlighted that the tank sale deal "will bolster Bahrain's capabilities to address present and future threats by furnishing it with a dependable deterrent, and facilitating its involvement in regional operations alongside the United States and other partner countries."
Congress can vote to block this deal within 30 days, knowing it usually approves most military deals.
Read next: Bahraini hackers target US Fifth Fleet, access secret data
On another note, the US State Department disclosed that approximately 30 US contractors and one government official will be deployed to Bahrain for around five years to oversee the training program.
Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, is designated as a key ally of the United States. Last September, the Biden administration inked a fresh agreement with Bahrain focused on bolstering defense and economic relations, which includes enhancing the exchange of intelligence information between the two nations.
This deal comes as Bahrainis suffer from economic hardship, as well as against the impact of protests against their country's policy, which joined "Operation Prosperity Guardian" against Yemen to protect "Israel".
