WASHINGTON — The administration of President Barack Obama has
proposed an increase in U.S. military aid for several Arab League states.
The administration has submitted a proposed budget for fiscal 2011 that
included military assistance increases for Bahrain, Libya, Morocco, Oman and
Yemen. Officials said several Middle East countries also received forward
funding over the last year as part of the Foreign Military Financing
program.
Under the budget proposed by the State Department, U.S. military aid to
Bahrain would increase from $8 million in fiscal 2009 to $19.5 million next
year, Middle East Newsline reported. The U.S. Navy maintains its Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, regarded as the
poorest of the six GCC states.
Oman would also see a significant increase in 2011. Officials said U.S.
military aid would rise from $7 million in 2009 to $13 million in 2011.
U.S. military aid to Yemen would increase from $12.5 million in 2010 to
$35 million in 2011. Officials said Yemen would receive a range of
helicopters as well as special operations forces training.
Libya would see an increase in U.S. military assistance from $150,000 to
$250,000 in 2011. Officials said the rise would enable U.S. military
training of Libyan forces.
Morocco would receive a nearly three-fold aid increase from 2009. The
North African kingdom would receive $9 million in U.S. military assistance
in fiscal 2011, up from $3.6 million in 2009.
The U.S. military aid level for Egypt would remain at $1.3 billion in
2011. Israel would receive $3 billion, up from $2.775 billion in 2010.
The State Department recommended a reduction in U.S. military aid for
Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia. Jordan would receive $300 million in 2011, down
from $335 million in 2009.
U.S. military aid to Lebanon in 2011 was allocated at $100 million, down
from $159.7 million in 2009. Officials said the administration and Congress
were concerned that U.S. weapons to Lebanon would end up with the
Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah.
The biggest proportional decrease in U.S. military aid was allocated for
Tunisia. The administration has asked for $4.9 million in military aid to
Tunis, a drop of more than $10 million since 2010.
The State Department said the United States forwarded hundreds of
millions of dollars in military aid over the last year. Officials said
Israel received advanced funding of $555 million for fiscal 2010; Egypt,
$260 million, and Jordan, $150 million.
