Trump sidesteps global arms pact to secure drone deal with Saudi Arabia

US President Donald Trump is poised to unilaterally reinterpret a key international arms control agreement, clearing the way for expanded US drone exports to foreign allies. The move would bypass decades-old restrictions under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), reclassifying advanced unmanned aerial systems as conventional aircraft to facilitate multi-billion-dollar deals—most notably with Saudi Arabia. 

The policy shift would allow the United States to bypass a 1987 agreement signed by 35 countries to restrict the proliferation of long-range missile systems. By reclassifying drones as aircraft—similar to fighter jets like the F-16—rather than as missile systems, the US aims to facilitate drone exports to allies in the Middle East, Pacific, and Eastern Europe, Reuters reports.

According to sources, the reinterpretation would immediately open the door for the sale of over 100 MQ-9 drones to Saudi Arabia, part of a $142 billion arms deal first announced in May. The move also benefits drone manufacturers like General Atomics, Kratos, and Anduril, whose products will now be treated as "Foreign Military Sales" by the State Department.

"This effort is the first part of a planned 'major' review of the US Foreign Military Sales program," said a US official speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Currently, drone sales under the MTCR are subject to a “strong presumption of denial” unless justified by compelling security interests and accompanied by strict usage agreements. However, officials argue that the reinterpretation is necessary to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.

The same US official said the new guidelines will allow the US "to become the premier drone provider instead of ceding that space to Türkiye and China."

The administration has not yet announced when the new policy will be unveiled, but it is expected to align with a broader overhaul of the Foreign Military Sales framework later this year. The timing also coincides with development of a new generation of jet-powered drones designed to operate alongside fighter aircraft.

One of the first large sales that may come after the reinterpretation may be to Saudi Arabia. US President Joe Biden had adopted the tougher stance on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021, citing the kingdom's use of US military equipment in its campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, which has inflicted heavy civilian casualties.

But ties between the kingdom and the United States have warmed since then, as Washington has worked more closely with Riyadh in the aftermath of the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

While the White House may tout the move as a boost for US manufacturing and exports, arms control and human rights advocates warn it could intensify regional conflicts and erode global non-proliferation norms.

By Vafa Guliyeva