US approves $2.2 billion tank sale to Bahrain

The US State Department said it has informed the US Congress that Washington is ready to sell 50 M1A2 Abrams tanks to Bahrain, which has tense relations with Iran, according to AFP.

The US Congress could still block the sale of M1A2 Abrams tanks to Bahrain, although most such military transactions are approved.

"The proposed sale will improve Bahrain's ability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that can deter adversaries and provide the ability to engage in regional operations with the United States and other U.S. partner nations," the State Department said.

The US State Department added that about 30 US contractors and one government official will be sent to Bahrain for up to five years to provide training on M1A2 Abrams tanks.

US soldiers on Abrams tanks participate in NATO exercises in Poland on March 4.

The Abrams tank, one of the heaviest tanks in the world, is a mainstay of the US military. US President Joe Biden approved the Abrams tanks for Ukraine last year to counter Russian forces, after initial concerns about the time it would take to produce and train Ukrainian forces to use the tanks.

Bahrain is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet and is considered a major non-NATO ally, giving it special defense cooperation privileges with the US.

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Last year, the Biden administration signed a new agreement with Bahrain to strengthen defense and economic ties, including greater intelligence sharing.

Bahrain has also signed up to the US-UK-led coalition against Houthi forces in Yemen, which have carried out attacks on ships in the Red Sea in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in the Hamas-Israel conflict, according to AFP.

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