US Sanctions Iran and Venezuela, Forgets Its Own Weapons Deals
The US Treasury Department hit entities tied to Iran and Venezuela with sanctions for alleged arms proliferation. A fascinating display of selective indignation, considering the US just approved a $18 billion transfer of F-15 fighter jets to Israel (Al-Monitor and Reuters, April 2024), adding to the $3.3 billion in annual military aid—a significant portion of which is then spent on US defense
contractors. One might wonder where the global stability concerns vanish when the weapons deals are signed in Washington. This isn't about weapons; it's about who's selling and who's buying. The US remains the world's leading arms exporter, facilitating 42% of global arms transfers between 2018-2022 (SIPRI, March 2023). So, while Washington preaches about the dangers of certain nations trading
arms, it simultaneously funnels advanced weaponry into ongoing conflicts, like those devastating Gaza and Yemen. Apparently, only some weapons trades are deemed 'destabilizing.' The hypocrisy would be comical, if the consequences weren't so deadly.