Trump Plans to Reinterpret Arms Control Treaty to Allow Combat Drone Exports.
U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to unilaterally reinterpret a 38-year-old arms control agreement to enable the export of advanced drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper, according to Reuters, cited by RBC-Ukraine.
Sources say the new interpretation would pave the way for Washington to sell over 100 MQ-9s to Saudi Arabia, which requested the aircraft earlier this year. The deal could be included in a broader $142 billion arms package announced in May.
By reclassifying drones as aircraft—similar to fighter jets like the F-16—rather than missile systems, the U.S. would sidestep restrictions under the 1987 Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an accord signed by 35 countries.
American allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific have also expressed interest in acquiring U.S. combat drones, officials noted. Trump’s move is seen as the first step in a “major” overhaul of U.S. foreign military sales aimed at making Washington the world’s top drone supplier, competing with Turkey and China.
Human rights advocates and arms control experts, however, warn the policy shift could fuel violence and instability across regions such as the Middle East and South Asia.
While China never signed the MTCR, Turkey—despite being a signatory—has marketed its Bayraktar TB2 drones widely, including on the battlefield in Ukraine. Heavier drones like the Reaper remain restricted under current rules. Meanwhile, Russia continues to rely on both domestic and Iranian drones in its war against Ukraine.
U.S. officials insist any sales will still undergo the government’s foreign military sales vetting process, which considers human rights concerns and security safeguards.
The move comes just days after Trump instructed the Pentagon to step up preparations to counter both Russia and China, following Beijing’s September 3 military parade showcasing its latest weaponry.
