Proposed sales of weapons and military equipment to foreign countries nearly doubled in FY17, to approximately $54.2 billion, as compared to $36.7 billion in FY16. In both years, the primary recipients were Middle Eastern counties. Indeed, in 2017, about $32 billion of the $54.2 billion in proposed weapons and military equipment sales was destined for Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The largest single proposed sale was to the Kuwait Air Force, which wants 32 Boeing Co. F/A-18E/F fighter aircraft and associated equipment.

As global tensions escalate, spanning multiple countries and continents, US makers of weapons and military equipment are likely to discover new and growing markets for foreign military sales. This will be bolstered by President Trump's desire to facilitate overseas arms sales to strengthen and protect US allies and create jobs for US workers.

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