Amidst the complexities of the F-35 acquisition deal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly considering the Chinese J-20 stealth fighters as a potential alternative, as reported by the diary The National Interest. This consideration comes as the chief of joint operations of the Emirati Armed Forces visited Beijing on April 23. Despite Israel’s recent approval of the F-35 sale to the UAE—an endorsement tied to a broader normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE formalized on August 13, 2020—the F-35 acquisition has encountered numerous hurdles. These include Israel’s concerns about maintaining its qualitative military edge, issues related to human rights practices, and the UAE’s technological links with China, particularly its refusal to sever their agreement with Huawei.
In November 2020, the Trump administration initially approved the sale of up to 50 stealth F-35 fighters to the UAE in a deal valued at $23 billion, aimed at boosting the UAE’s military capabilities amidst growing regional uncertainties. However, the deal faced multiple challenges and was subsequently frozen by the Biden administration in 2021, citing various concerns including potential Chinese espionage through Huawei’s 5G technology, which could compromise the advanced systems of the F-35.