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The US president Donald Trump posted a tweet yesterdays which reads as follows:
I am allowing Japan & South Korea to buy a substantially increased amount of highly sophisticated military equipment from the United States.
Does the President need approval from congress to export sophisticated weapons (potentially even B2 or F22 planes) to foreign countries?
It appears that the President can propose military exports, but approval is up to congress if the dollar amount is above a certain number (not idea what 14 million buys, but it actually seems rather low in the context of 'sophisticated weaponry'):
Under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), Congress must be formally notified 30 calendar days before the Administration can take the final steps to conclude a government-to-government foreign military sale of:
- major defense equipment valued at $14 million or more,
- defense articles or services valued at $50 million or more,
- or design and construction services valued at $200 million or more
