The U.S. Senate voted this week to reject a resolution introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders that sought to delay a $20 billion defense equipment agreement with a major Middle Eastern ally. Sanders’ proposal called for additional time for Congress to review the terms of the deal, arguing that lawmakers should have greater oversight of large and costly foreign military transactions before they move forward.
The measure received limited support and was ultimately defeated by a broad bipartisan majority. Lawmakers who backed the defense agreement described it as an important component of America’s long-standing partnerships overseas. They stated that maintaining consistent cooperation with trusted allies strengthens regional security and supports joint efforts to counter evolving threats.