Bahrain’s F-16V order comes with strings attached

It has been disclosed that the Obama administration added a “declaration of concern” into the draft notification of the sale of F-16 fighters to Bahrain.

Photo: RBAF

In it, Washington wanted Bahrain to improve its human rights record before the sale can proceed. The declaration did not specify what steps Bahrain needs to act on.

Besides selling new F-16s to Bahrain, Lockheed Martin will get to upgrade Bahrain’s existing F-16 fleet as well.