The US has announced it will begin
allowing sales of armed drones to
some friendly and allied countries.
Only the UK has been allowed to
purchase armed unmanned aircraft.
Other countries have unarmed craft.
Countries purchasing drones must
sign agreements they will only be
used for military campaigns and the
US will review how the country is
complying.
The change comes amid China
exporting drones from its own
unmanned programme to at least
nine countries.
In the newly published policy, the
state department did not specify
which countries would be considered
for armed drone sales, but unnamed
officials told US media previous
requests by Italy and Turkey would
be reconsidered.
US lawmakers are also currently
considering selling unarmed Predator
drones to the United Arab Emirates.
But certain drones - with a range of
300km (186 miles) and carrying a
payload of 500kg (1,100lb) - will still
be barred from export except in
highly unusual circumstances.
Armed drones have been crucial to
the US counter-terrorism strategy in
the US, including killing targets from
al-Qaeda and other militant groups
but have been criticised for killing
civilians.
The policy change comes at the end
of a two-year review. The state
department says it is allowing sales
of armed drones to make sure the
aircraft are being used legally and
responsibly.
"The technology is here to stay," an
anonymous State Department official
told The Washington Post. "It's to our
benefit to have certain allies and
partners equipped appropriately."
But there has been criticism from
some in Congress of sales to even
close allies over concerns about
intelligence expertise and human
rights records.
And defence officials have struggled
to keep up with military
commanders' requests for using
drones, and have struggled to move
drones where needed for joint
missions with allies.
Among the requirements for sale
would be an agreement requiring
the recipient to use drones in
accordance with international law
and to not use the aircraft "to
conduct unlawful surveillance or use
unlawful force against their domestic
populations".

www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-31523207?ocid=socialflow_twitter

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