Media: US president to reinterpret arms treaty for major drone sales

President Donald Trump is expected to reinterpret a 38-year-old arms control treaty to allow the sale of advanced military drones, including MQ-9 "Reaper" style aircraft, to foreign buyers, according to a USofficial and four sources familiar with the plan.

The move could unlock the sale of more than 100 MQ-9 drones to Saudi Arabia, part of a $142 billion arms deal announced in May, with potential interest from US allies in Europe and the Pacific. By classifying drones as aircraft rather than missile systems, the US would bypass the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) agreement, which currently imposes strict restrictions on drone sales.

“This effort is the first part of a planned ‘major’ review of the US Foreign Military Sales program,” a US official told Reuters. 

The new policy would allow manufacturers like General Atomics, Kratos, and Anduril to have their drones treated as "Foreign Military Sales" by the State Department, facilitating international sales. The official added, the guidelines will allow the US “to become the premier drone provider instead of ceding that space to Türkiye and China.”

Currently, the MTCR discourages sales of many military drones unless buyers meet strict international law requirements. The reinterpretation aims to strengthen US competitiveness against Israeli, Chinese, and Turkish drone makers, who often sell under lighter restrictions.

All sales would still undergo the US Foreign Military Sales process, assessing regional security, human rights, and the buyer’s ability to safeguard the weapons system.

Saudi Arabia is likely to be one of the first recipients. Ties between Washington and Riyadh have warmed since 2023, after previously tougher restrictions under the Biden administration over Saudi actions in Yemen.

Human rights and arms control advocates warn the move could fuel violence and instability in regions such as the Middle East and South Asia.

By Sabina Mammadli