Senate to vote on blocking Trump's Saudi, UAE arms sales

By Connor O’Brien
Lawmakers in both parties have sought to block arms sales over Saudi and UAE intervention in Yemen's civil war

The Senate has agreed to vote Thursday on blocking President Donald Trump's arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell laid out an agreement on the Senate floor Wednesday for senators to vote on 22 resolutions to terminate a series of weapons sales rolled out last month.

Lawmakers were incensed by the administration's announcement that it is using emergency powers to bypass Congress for $8.1 billion in weapons sales — including munitions, aircraft parts and other supplies. The sales, the administration said, are aimed at helping the countries defense themselves against Iran.

Lawmakers in both parties have also sought to block arms sales over Saudi and UAE intervention in Yemen's civil war and the Saudis' killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

But the legislation likely won't gain enough votes to overcome Trump's veto.

"I don't think there's anyone on this floor that is adverse to the idea that action needs to be taken, and obviously the relationship is not the same as it's been for a long time," said Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho).

The top Foreign Relations Democrat, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, added that Trump's actions regarding Iran are "putting us more at risk."

"Does this administration have a strategic maximum pressure campaign in place to address Iran's nuclear capabilities or its destructive behavior, or is the Trump administration's only plan to turn the Middle East into a pressure cooker with no release valve?" Menendez asked. "I fear it's the latter."