By Dr Nidal Shoukeir
Despite recent efforts by the United States to ease tensions, the ongoing clashes between Washington and Iran’s proxies in the region persist. The apparent lack of control over these exchanges of fire between the “great American power” and Iran-backed militias put the administration of President Joe Biden in an embarrassing situation, just months before highly anticipated US presidential elections.
The current context, marked by the apparent confusion of the Biden administration in this strategic region, should serve as a wake-up call for American policymakers. Especially as the situation has recently entered a new phase of complexity, with glaring differences between Washington and its “Gulf allies” becoming increasingly evident.
Following clear disagreements on several fronts, including the recent conflict in Gaza and navigation in the Red Sea, leaks have emerged regarding the Gulf countries’ reluctance to facilitate US military missions against Iran’s proxies. In this context, the American newspaper “Politico” published an article asserting that “some Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, are increasingly restricting the US from using military facilities on their soil to launch retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian proxies.”
While this content is unofficial and attributed to anonymous American and Western officials, it has been widely disseminated in the media and politically. This marks the first clear American message indicating tension in the relationship with its Gulf allies, particularly the United Arab Emirates. The absence of any high-level American official response to refute this and affirm the absence of tension with Abu Dhabi or other Gulf capitals has given this content considerable significance and credibility.
Readers typically focus on three main points. Firstly, the purpose of disseminating this content: is it to assign blame to the Gulf countries for the Biden administration’s failure to control the deteriorating situation in the region? Secondly, the explicit mention of the United Arab Emirates compared to other Gulf countries sharing the same position. Some in the Gulf wonder if this content aims to divide their ranks and show divergence among them. Lastly, the author suggests that the reason Abu Dhabi is acting this way is because “they don’t want to appear like they’re against Iran and they don’t want to appear too close to the West and Israel for public opinion reasons.”
In reality, this assertion has been difficult for the UAE to accept, especially because Abu Dhabi has a clear stance on Tehran and Israel. Furthermore, it is considered very close to the West, as a friend and ally of most Western countries, including the United States. More importantly, their leaders are not populist but enjoy great popularity and credibility among their citizens. They do not need this kind of populist content.
If we delve into the real reasons why the Gulf countries, including Abu Dhabi, are not facilitating Washington’s task of striking Iranian proxies, we will find a long list of logical and reasonable explanations. For example, what is the interest of the United Arab Emirates today in doing so and sabotaging the carefully established security arrangements away from Washington, which have brought calm and stability to the region, despite the controversial approach of the Biden administration to exit the region’s security? Or why is Abu Dhabi mobilizing today to defend American interests when the Biden administration remained still when Emirati cities were attacked by Houthi militias earlier this year?
In any case, to settle this issue, it can be affirmed that the facilitation of Gulf capitals for military missions related to the Red Sea dossier has no major impact on the trajectory of American operations there, given the diversity of Washington’s military options in the region.
Therefore, it is necessary to seriously address the real problem concerning this issue, and courageously state that the current problem there is not related to the cooperation or lack of cooperation of the Gulf countries, but stems from American misjudgments on Tehran and its proxies in the region, including the Houthi militias.
Regarding tensions in relations between Gulf capitals and Washington, it can be said that the United States occupies a special and distinguished place in the minds of Gulf countries. They have always considered Washington an ally, a strategic partner, and a historical friend, and above all, they remain committed to this relationship to this day.
However, it is impossible to ignore that there is a “problem” in US-Gulf relations, and that Gulf countries are unhappy with Washington. And that the latter has lost its credibility with them due to what many consider to be a flawed American policy towards them; in addition to the sharp rivalries between democratic and republican administrations in their treatment.
Some argue that several Gulf countries have put their relationship with Washington under serious review. And that the seeds of this review were not sown today, but go trace back to the year 2011, during the questionable management of the administration of the previous democratic president, Barack Obama, of the so-called “Arab Spring revolutions”.
There is no blinder than he who doesn’t want to see, says a French proverb. So, policymakers in Washington must open their eyes wide today and accept the idea that there is a serious problem disrupting the solidity of relations with their Gulf allies; and that it must be resolved as soon as possible if possible. Now the ball is in the American court, will American politicians take this step or will US-Gulf relations move towards more tension and complication?
The author is Professor of Strategic Communication and Government Relations in Paris.
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