U.S. Willing to Discuss Sadat’s Request for Weapons when He Meets with Carter Next Month

The United States will be “quite willing to discuss” Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s request for weapons when he meets with President Carter here next week, the State Department said today.

Sadat said over the weekend in interviews on the CBS television network and in Business Week magazine that he wanted “defensive” weapons like anti-tank missiles and warplanes from the United States because he is a “friend”. He also said in Business Week that he wants U.S. credits of between $5-$10 billion in joint Egyptian- American economic ventures.

Responding to questions, Department spokesman Frederick Z. Brown said the Department has received no “official request” from Egypt for military equipment and that he did not know about credits. He also said that of the six C-130 military transport aircraft promised Egypt last year, all but one or two have been delivered.

Regarding President Carter’s review of the U.S. arms export policy, Brown said he cannot provide a list of items under review or their dollar value. After a case-by-case review, he said, Congress will be notified of the decisions. He could not say when the President will take up these matters with Congress. There are “literally dozens of individual cases.” Brown said when asked about items for Israel. He acknowledged that an estimate of $5-$6 billion in military requirements is involved in the review.

Among the items held up, it is reported, is $1.4 billion in Hawk missiles for Saudi Arabia. Most of the weaponry under review is being sought by Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel, officials said. Egypt’s request may complicate and delay final action on the review, it was also said.