A sailor sailing on two boats at once, the UAE has been attempting to be the smartest captain. However, with the countries being approached by the Emirates, not every ride is expected to be as smooth. The waves are majorly expected to be rough from the United States.
For years, Washington and the UAE have moved on sorted routes of alliance, where interests of both the sides were being fulfilled. While the US received its best counter-terrorism ally in the Gulf, the Emirates has been getting a strong military support. Besides, the partnership is also based on exchange of oil and arms between the two nations. However, the once-strong relations are amidst situations that are indicating one of the greatest breakups in history.
The reasons of all such doubts have been the Emirati inclination towards the foremost rivals of the US, including Russia and China. Over the years, the UAE has emerged as the Middle East’s most influential player, which has been playing the cards that turn in its own favor, irrespective of all the other factors. This is why, the Arab nation often opts to indulge in pacts by stepping on its own allies.
In lines of that pattern, the Emirati interests are turning the face towards Russia, while gradually turning the back towards America. The strategic relations between Abu Dhabi and Moscow were announced in 2018, following which the qualitative leap has been quite evident. In the Libyan war, the two countries have been crucial supporters of Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA). Analysts have long highlighted a coordination between them in Libya.
Russia’s Wagner Group is known to have deployed over a thousand mercenaries in the North African nation. The Private Military Company (PMC) is run by a close friend of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the firm’s acts in Libya intensified the US’ push for a peace deal, it was revealed that the UAE has been funding the Russian PMC, as part of an agreement that was signed by the Abu Dhabi. The US Pentagon exposed the Emirates as the main financial supporter of the sanctioned Wagner Group.
The UAE has also been seeking for a $23 billion arms deal with Washington, which included purchase of 50 F-35 stealthy fighter jets, 18 MQ-9B drones and other advanced munitions. However, in December 2021, the Emirates announced to suspend talks with the US regarding the F-35 deal, after the Biden administration pressurized the UAE to remove China’s Huawei Technologies Co. from its telecommunications network.
Meanwhile, Russia laid the plans of co-producing its new Su-75 Checkmate stealth fighter with the Emirates. The consequences of the move include a boost to the struggling defense industry of Russia and a lowered dependency of the UAE on the US for fighter aircraft. It would also prove to be economically beneficial for the Emirates, as the SU-75 provides fifth-generation capabilities at a fraction of the F-35’s price.
The recent events have been presenting a wavered ground, where the UAE is rolling between the powerful nations for its own interests. However, in its strategic moves, the Emirates might soon lose the oldest anchor — US.
