The United Arab Emirates (UAE) sees the United States as a less reliable security and regional partner than in the past, The Hill newspaper quoted Washington-based Brookings Institution expert Courtney Freer as saying on Tuesday.
"As for the UAE, it sees the US as a less reliable security and regional partner than it has considered in the past, so it is willing to develop its own independent foreign policy," the expert noted. As the publication emphasizes, Abu Dhabi "has achieved greater independence from the US".
At the same time, Hussein Ibish, an expert from the Washington-based Arab Gulf Institute, believes that the provision of substantial US military assistance to Kiev after the start of the Russian military special operation has strengthened the feeling of the UAE authorities that Washington is abandoning its commitments to ensure security in the Middle East. According to him, Abu Dhabi is "looking at a firm, unified and decisive response" to the situation in Ukraine, comparing it to the situation around the Ansar Allah ( Houthis) rebel movement attacks and "feeling second best, not particularly cared about." This has led UAE leaders "to seek help in other countries," the publication points out.
US delegation
The Hill believes that the high-ranking US delegation led by Vice President Kamala Harris, which US leader Joe Biden sent to offer condolences on the death of the country's previous leader, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, "signals an attempt by the White House to restore relations with Abu Dhabi." The delegation also included US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, CIA Director William Burns, the special envoy on climate issues and former foreign policy chief John Kerry. Ibish said sending officials of this rank shows that the Biden administration knows it has some work to do. "I think the high-level delegation signals that Washington would like to restore relations, [it is] very important for it to do so," the expert stressed.
"Washington's refusal and perceived indifference have caused the UAE to act more boldly on the world stage recently," the article noted. For example, the state abstained from voting in the UN Security Council on a draft resolution by Western countries condemning Russia's operation in Ukraine. The UAE authorities also refused to increase oil production at the request of Washington and continue to strengthen ties with China. At the same time, stresses The Hill, Abu Dhabi had good relations with the previous administration of former US President Donald Trump.
According to Simon Henderson, an expert at the Washington Middle East policy institute, the new UAE president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan considers himself a visionary and his country "significant and important, he expects respect and certainly does not think that he was treated with respect under Biden.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
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Based on materials from TASS