Is the F-35 in the UAE’s Future? (From RealClearDefense)

The normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a big deal. There are reports that other Persian Gulf and Arab nations may soon follow. Could this political shift be followed by a major change in U.S. arms sales policy to the region? Might there be a future in which the U.S. sells Arab allies advanced weapons systems, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ? But the threat posed by Iran to the Gulf, Israel, and indeed the entire region, continues to grow. The F-35 is not a bargaining chip. However, it is a decisive military capability which, when operated by the U.S. and its allies and friends, can create a regional and even global deterrent capability. I have written more on the F-35 in the Middle East here.