WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Yemeni officials said contracting U.S.-supplied vessels to protect against piracy isn't violating bilateral agreements with Washington.
Washington since 2003 delivered more than 20 vessels to the Yemeni coast guard for protecting the coast against militants. The Yemeni coast guard, however, is renting out some of the boats as escorts for commercial ships seeking protection from pirates, The Wall Street Journal reports.
U.S. Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., and the incoming chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security said the allegations raise "serious questions" for the next Congress. His concerns come as Washington considers sending more military aid to Yemen to help Sanaa tackle security challenges.
The bilateral agreement bars Yemen for using the vessels for private commercial enterprise. Yemeni officials deny using the U.S.-supplied boats for profit, saying any of the contracted fees go back to federal coffers.
"U.S.-provided vessels to the Yemeni coast guard aren't intended to perform escort operations," an unnamed U.S. defense official told the Journal.
Washington gave Yemen more than $150 million in military aid in 2010.
