US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is set to leave Washington on Saturday for a five-nation tour of the Middle East. The trip comes as the United States is close to finalising a 10-billion-dollar arms deal with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to the New York Times, the deal involving missiles, warplanes and troop transports is designed to help protect the countries against any future threat from Iran. Under the deal, Israel would buy KC-135 refuelling tanker planes, "antiradiation" missiles that target air-defence radars, new advanced radars for jets and - in the first sale to any foreign military - the V-22 Osprey transport aircraft, the New York Times reported.
The UAE would purchase 26 F-16 warplanes as well as precision missiles. Saudi Arabia would also buy a number of missiles. In addition, Israel would also receive 3 billion dollars in military aid. The newspaper quoted a "senior administration official" as saying that the aim of the deal was "not just to boost Israel's capabilities, but also to boost the capabilities of our Persian Gulf partners so they, too, would be able to address the Iranian threat." While in the Middle East, Hagel will also visit Egypt and Jordan.