UAE’s Strategic Balancing Act: Strengthening US Ties Amid Middle East Turmoil and China Relations

The UAE which has been seeking to re-orient its foreign policy in recent years has been reasonably deft and has been successful in balancing its ties between Beijing and Washington DC.  The US also understands the importance of UAE in the Middle East especially in the current geopolitical situation.

The US President, Joe Biden officially declared the United Arab Emirates (UAE) a “Major Defence Partner” on September 23, 2024. Biden made this announcement after a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his US visit (this happened to be the first official visit by a UAE President to the US and happens to be the fourth meeting between the leaders during the Biden-Harris administration). The “Major Defence Partner Status” will help the UAE in getting access to advanced US technology and further enhance military cooperation between both countries. It would be pertinent to note that the US declared India a “major defence partner” in 2016.

In a statement, the White House also alluded to the possibility of trilateral cooperation between India, the US and UAE. The statement: “..allow for unprecedented cooperation through joint training, exercises, and military-to-military collaboration, between the military forces of the United States, the UAE, and India, as well as other common military partners, in furtherance of regional stability”.

UAE-US ties: Beyond the bilateral context

The UAE and the US share close strategic ties, with a long history of cooperation. The UAE was one of the signatories of the Abraham Accords, which led to the normalization of relations between Israel and four Arab nations: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Additionally, the US and UAE are part of the I2U2 partnership, which includes India and Israel. Often referred to as the “Middle Eastern Quad,” this grouping aims to promote investments in key sectors such as food security, infrastructure, energy, and space.

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It would be pertinent to point out, that the UAE has been critical of Israel, ever since the conflict began in Gaza last year. Both Biden and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated their commitment to a ceasefire in Gaza and “urgent unhindered” humanitarian aid to Gaza deliveries. UAE has played a proactive role in humanitarian aid relief to Gaza. UAE’s humanitarian aid efforts to Gaza include medical supplies, food, shelter, and evacuation of injured Palestinians to Abu Dhabi. In December 2023, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 2720 which demanded significant steps for increasing the flow of life-saving humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

On September 14, 2024, UAE’s foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, posted on X that “the UAE is not prepared to support a day after the war in Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

A joint statement issued after the meeting between the US President and his UAE counterpart also referred to the importance of the “two-state solution”. Said the statement: “They stressed the need to refrain from all unilateral measures that undermine the two-state solution, and to preserve the historic status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites, recognizing the special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in this regard”.

Timing of the announcement

The timing of this announcement is important since it comes at a time when there is turmoil in the Middle East for nearly a year. It also comes at a time, when the UAE’s ties with China have strengthened (the US had repeatedly expressed its displeasure between the UAE and China, especially in the sphere of technology). Here it would be pertinent to point out, that in January 2024, UAE entered BRICS, a China-dominated organisation, and like many other countries is also supporting de-dollarisation (trade in non-dollar currencies with countries).

The US wants the UAE, like other Gulf nations, to take care of its security (the US has been seeking to reduce its involvement). Second, it also seeks greater cooperation from the UAE to play a proactive role in finding a solution to the Middle East conflict.

Conclusion

The announcement of the US President reiterates the point that while there has been talk of China’s growing clout in the Middle East, especially the Gulf, driven by economic and strategic considerations, the US has its relevance in the region. Gulf countries especially the UAE while diversifying their foreign relations, and despite their differences with the US over several issues understand the importance of robust relations with Washington DC. The UAE which has been seeking to re-orient its foreign policy in recent years has been reasonably deft and has been successful in balancing its ties between Beijing and Washington DC.  The US also understands the importance of UAE in the Middle East especially in the current geopolitical situation.

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