US notifies Congress of over $37 billion in Patriot sales to Gulf states

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The US Department of Defense has notified Congress of potential Patriot missile defense system sales totaling more than $37 billion to Gulf allies during the March–May 2026 period, according to documents submitted to lawmakers. The Pentagon issued seven notifications covering new defense agreements and the expansion of existing packages with the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. Kuwait accounted for the largest share at $19.8 billion, followed by the UAE at $11.81 billion, Qatar at $4.01 billion and Bahrain at $1.625 billion, bringing the combined value to $37.245 billion. The documents indicate that demand for Patriot systems reflects security concerns tied to Iran's missile threat in the Gulf, with tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's missile capability heightening risks to maritime traffic and critical facilities. Officials noted that the Pentagon notifications do not legally constitute finalized deals, and that cost and procurement items may change during negotiations. Separately, the documents show that broader US–Gulf military cooperation also includes other weapons agreements covering F-16 fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles.