The Middle East is undergoing radical transformations in political and military alliances, as the United Arab Emirates appears to have chosen its side in the escalating conflict between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other. These developments could lead to the isolation of the UAE from the rest of the Arab world.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that the UAE and Israel are in the process of establishing a joint defense fund, enabling both countries to purchase weapons together. This move has been reported by various media outlets, but has not been confirmed by either government.
Details of the Event
The agreement to establish the defense fund seems to have been reached during a secret visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE, which was announced on May 13. Hours after the announcement, the UAE denied that the visit took place. In the same context, the U.S. ambassador to Israel confirmed that Israel had supplied the UAE with air defense weapons to help counter Iranian attacks.
These developments come after the UAE announced at the end of April its withdrawal from the OPEC organization after 59 years of membership, sparking analyses that suggest the Middle East is witnessing fundamental changes. Sinzia Bianco, a researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations, commented that the old order in the Gulf is fading as a new system emerges.
Background & Context
Historically, the Arabian Gulf has seen clear divisions, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia adopting differing stances on many issues, including the conflict in Yemen. With the onset of the war with Iran, it seemed that Gulf states were uniting, but as the UAE deepens its ties with Israel, divisions have resurfaced.
In this context, Markus Schneider, head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's project on peace and security in the Middle East, pointed out that two emerging blocs are forming: the first consists of the UAE and Israel, while the second includes Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan, known as the