U.S Defense Secretary to propose arms deals to Saudi Arabia and UAE

The U.S. is finalizing $10 billion in arms deals with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that will provide them with a range of weaponry, including aircraft and missiles. During his stop in each of those three countries, Hagel was expected to discuss details of those arms sales.
 
On his first Mideast visit as Pentagon chief, Hagel planned stops in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Each is a longstanding U.S. security partner and each is concerned about the threat of Syria's collapse and Iran's suspected pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
 
Syria also will be at or near the top of Hagel's agenda when he meets with Jordanian officials in the capital, Amman. Earlier this month he approved the deployment of an Army headquarters unit to Jordan to work with Jordanian forces and to prepare for a range of future developments, presumably including a crisis over controlling Syria's chemical weapons.
 
Talking to the press Hagel commented "Washington wants to improve Israel military capacity, but at the same time do not want to look as if they support hasty plans against Iran's nuclear facilities."
 
Hagel's visit also coincides with renewed Obama administration interest in reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Secretary of State John Kerry, who was in Israel this month, has put new attention on the long-stalemated process.