Washington-Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement.
“Once again, Donald Trump is unilaterally abrogating a long-standing arms control agreement because it is inconvenient for his ‘anything goes’ policy to sell dangerous weapons seemingly anywhere to anyone. In this case, it is the Missile Technology Control Regime, set up by President Reagan, to restrict exports of unmanned aerial vehicles that can carry nuclear weapons. Trump wants to be free to sell UAVs that can carry heavy warheads, bombs, and other explosive devices more than 300 km.
“In addition to Trump’s sale of such weapons, this will certainly result in other nations abandoning MTCR restrictions that they find inconvenient for their exports. China will be emboldened, clearing the way for similar weapons to end up with those who mean harm to the United States, Israel, and other friends and allies. Another nonproliferation agreement is bound to erode and perhaps expire. And the world is again less safe thanks to the Trump Administration.".
