The Biden administration has put a temporary hold on several major foreign arms sales initiated by former President Donald Trump. Air Force via AP)WASHINGTON – The Biden administration has put a temporary hold on several major foreign arms sales initiated by former President Donald Trump. It called the pause “a routine administrative action” that most incoming administrations take with large-scale arms sales. In its waning months, the Trump administration authorized tens of billions of dollars in new arms sales, including announcing plans to send 50 F-35s to the UAE. Less than a month after the Nov. 10 UAE sale was announced, an effort to block the deal fell short in the Senate, which failed to halt it.

The United States called Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates "major security partners" early Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, a previously unheard of designation for the two countries home to major American military operations. Air Force via AP)DUBAI – The United States called Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates “major security partners" early Saturday, a previously unheard of designation for the two countries home to major American military operations. Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, while the UAE's Jebel Ali port is the busiest port of call for American warships outside of the U.S. Bahrain hosts some 5,000 American troops, while the UAE hosts 3,500, many at Al-Dhafra Air Base. Already, the U.S. uses the designation of “major non-NATO ally” to describe its relationship with Kuwait, which hosts the forward command of U.S. Army Central. Trump forged close ties to Gulf Arab countries during his time in office in part over his hard-line stance on Iran.

But on Wednesday the effort to turn back the arms sales failed to reach the 51-vote majority needed for passage. The Senate will take up the broader defense bill soon. Israeli officials have previously expressed some concern about an F-35 sale. Even after Wednesday's setback, Congress is poised to approve the sweeping annual defense bill despite Trump's objections. Trump has warned he would veto the bill over a provision to study stripping the names of Confederate leaders from U.S. military bases.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Training exercises will begin on Thursday at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township. The exercises will continue through the weekend. If you’re living or working near the base, you should expect to hear some strange noises. READ: Community coverageWatch the video above for the full report