More than 20 lawmakers on Monday urged President Trump to approve sales of armed drones to Jordan and the United Arab Emirates both to help in the ISIS fight and counter Chinese influence. The purchase of the MQ-9 Reapers would preserve thousands of US jobs, along with increasing the ability of the allied nations to assist in counter terror operations in the Middle East, according to the letter, which was signed by 20 Republican and two Democratic lawmakers.
Five hundred more U.S. personnel will be based in Germany starting later this year, in a reversal from previous Pentagon plans to draw troops out of the country under the Trump administration. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III announced the increase during a visit to Germany’s Ministry of Defense on…