The United States has formally designated the United Arab Emirates a “major defense partner”. The two countries also agreed to deepen collaboration on artificial intelligence.
The announcement followed President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s first meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office.
The move puts the US-UAE military relationship on the same footing as that between the United States and India. This way, UAE will have greater access to certain forms of US-made dual-use technology. The Golf country wanted for a long time greater access to US tech that can help position it as an AI industry leader.
in 2023 the UAE was added to a list of states unable to freely import US-made AI chips over fears of leaks to China, a move that strained UAE-US ties.
But, the UAE has close diplomatic and economic ties with China and it is unlikely to give up its relations with Beijing. Bilateral trade between Abu Dhabi and Beijing reached nearly $95 billion in 2023, compared to the Gulf state’s trade with the United States, of only $31.4 billion.
There are also a few other topics on the US-UAE agenda, that tensioned the bilateral relationship : UAE’s military support for the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, accused of committing war crimes, Abu Dhabi’s allegedly facilitation of the transfer of Iranian petroleum abroad and concealing the sale of Russian gold via an Emirati-based shell company.
Abu Dhabi’s approach to foreign relations reflects the tend throughout the region, that of a delicate balancing act with both Washington and Beijing. While hosting about 5,000 American troops at Al-Dhafra Air Base outside of Dubai, the UAE remains one of the key hubs of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and a gateway for about 60% of China’s trade in the Middle East and North Africa.
