The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ), also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, has for once again chosen suppression over freedom.
MbZ, who is already tied with menacing involvements in Libya and Yemen, is now teaming up with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Reportedly, the two leaders have now maintained diplomatic relationship for the last two years.
Years ago, after the Arab Springs in 2011, the UAE cut its diplomatic ties with Syria, but the bond has restored since Russia’s pro-Assad intervention instigated the UAE to change its policy. The decision that is both shameful and heinous given the human rights record of the Syrian regime.
But more than war crimes and atrocities, Abu Dhabi’s MbZ benefits from military and commercial relationships. Although, the new beginning between nations has been earmarked as couple of years old, the first signs of fostering interests came forward in 2015, after UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash showed support of Russia’s military intervention in November 2015.
In April 2018, Gargash once again issued the statement claiming that the offensive in Syria is between “radical Islamic” groups and Assad. And raised questions over expulsion of Syria from the Arab League.
Months later, the UAE further patted on the Assad’s back, as it opened its embassy in Damascus, which had remained closed for seven years. However, UAE’s MbZ aim was disguised as to normalize the relationship, in order to vanish the regional intervention on issues between Syria and other Gulf nations.
Carrying on at the same pace, the UAE’s military support has also increased, with a research paper released on June 23 — by France-based research and news portal Orient XXI — revealing that the UAE has provided training to regime intelligence officers since Jan. 15. Additionally, 31 UAE soldiers and eight civil information and communication system engineers have been taught how to deal with logistics, while reconstruction of offices and infrastructure, especially of water supply in the Damascus has begun.
The Violation
Now, with the UAE continuing to benefit from their Arab Counterparts, the US has raised the alarm over sidelining of the US sanctions in the process. Recently, on June 18, US envoy to Syria James Jeffrey warned that if the UAE does not stop its efforts to normalize, it may be subjected to sanctions under the “Caesar Law” in the US Congress.
“They’re sovereign countries; they can make these decisions. But we have made it clear that we think this is a bad idea. It is not going to be conducive to a carrying out of the UN Security Council resolution and the ending of a conflict that is very troubling for the entire region,” said Jeffrey emphasizing on UAE’s inability to understand.
Over the years, Abu Dhabi’s MbZ has grown UAE’s presence in the MENA regions in order to maintain foothold in the regions, whilst deriving benefits in the name of providing humanitarian aid and restoring peace. However, the calm has remained far-sighted, with disruptions across regions claiming thousands of lives. Now, adding Syria in to the same context, MbZ once again sees to promote his interests at the cost of civilian bloodshed, while drenching gains to prosper its growth back home.
