UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Washington on September 23, marking the first-ever visit by a President of the UAE to the United States. During his visit, he met President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and several other top US officials. The delegations primarily discussed the prospects for both countries to strengthen their defense and strategic cooperation.
Both countries in recent years have taken several measures to deepen their economic and technological partnership as outlined in the recent joint statement. Annual bilateral trade has reached $40 billion with US exports to the UAE crossing $24 billion in 2023 which makes the UAE rank among the top five countries with which the United States has a trade surplus. The UAE has made significant investments in the United States via Mubadala Investment Company, one of its largest sovereign wealth funds, channeling over $100 billion into various US businesses. As an attempt to advance AI in the region, Microsoft invested $1.5 billion in the UAE’s G42 — an Abu Dhabi-based AI development company focused on implementing AI across diverse industries. Both countries reaffirmed the US-UAE nuclear cooperation agreement as a model for future technologies. Moreover, both countries have also deepened their cooperation in AI governance, cybersecurity, and scientific research and development.
The United States and the UAE are keen on enhancing the resilience of global supply chains through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), particularly highlighting the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) that was launched during the G20 Summit in 2023. This is particularly important amid the growing risks in the region’s traditional trade routes and the need for both countries to build resilient trade networks.
Both countries have also advanced their efforts in increasing investments in clean energy under the Partnership to Accelerate Clean Energy (PACE) initiative to combat energy poverty, particularly in African countries. UAE-based Averi Finance will be facilitating $5 billion in investments to build 3 gigawatts of power projects and 3,000 kilometers of transmission lines. Moreover, the UAE-based AMEA Power is targeting 5 gigawatts of renewable energy in Africa by 2030. There also has been significant investments in the renewable energy sector in the United States like Masdar’s wind projects in New Mexico, Texas, and California. Both countries have reaffirmed their cooperation in space technology and deep space exploration – an area that is extremely critical considering the UAE’s ambition to be a leader in space exploration. The UAE Space Agency will provide an airlock for NASA’s Gateway station around the Moon, enabling the first Emirati astronaut to join lunar exploration.
Perhaps the most significant development is the official recognition of the UAE as a “Major Defense Partner” of the United States, a status previously exclusive to India. This would strengthen the bilateral defense partnership, military collaboration and joint training and exercises as well as pave the way for deeper cooperation across the Middle East as well as the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Both countries reaffirmed the 2017 Defense Cooperation Agreement, underscoring the importance of their annual Joint Military Dialogue to address regional security challenges. It is important to note that the UAE hosts some of the most important military bases of the United States in the region like the Al Dhafra base which accommodates 5,000 US military personnel. Moreover, the UAE over time has become an important US military partner in the region, participating in various US-led military coalitions. Although there was speculation that designating the UAE as a major defense partner would pave the way for the resumption of F-35 warplane negotiations, recent reports indicate that the UAE might not be interested in the deal.
The recent developments in US-UAE bilateral ties indicate that both countries are eager to move past their differences over regional issues. The United States and the UAE have adopted divergent positions concerning the war in Gaza. The United States has extended continuous support to Israel while the UAE has repeatedly called for a humanitarian truce and an end to the violence unleashed by Israel. The United States has vetoed multiple UNSC resolutions calling for a humanitarian pause while the UAE has voted in favor. Also, both countries have clear divergences in Sudan resulting in some friction in their engagement as the UAE is alleged to have extended military support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The priorities for both the United States and the UAE are now different and energy is no longer the sole fulcrum of this relationship. Other priorities rooted in geoeconomic and geostrategic considerations are now at the forefront of steering this relationship. Sheikh Mohammed’s landmark visit to the United States reflects the shift in US-UAE bilateral relations that are multidimensional and deepening across various critical sectors including defense, technology, and the economy. The visit highlights the shared interests and concerns of both countries and the mutual intent to overcome differences. One may wonder about the future of US-UAE relations given Washington’s focus on other global arenas, such as Eastern Europe and Asia, in its efforts to counter Russia and China. In this context, the United States has taken this opportunity to reassure the UAE of its continued commitment to the region’s security, despite concerns about Washington’s growing focus towards the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, the UAE’s strategic location and economic strength grant it significant influence over the western peripheries of the IOR.
The UAE’s diplomatic maneuvers indicate its aspiration to increase its strategic autonomy by deepening trade and technological ties with Beijing while solidifying its engagement with Washington — which is extremely important as the United States remains and will continue to remain the net security provider of the region for the foreseeable future. This approach is now seen in all GCC countries as they assert themselves as active players in global affairs, carving out independent positions on both regional and global issues in response to the shifting dynamics of the world order. The United States remains apprehensive about the increasing technological cooperation between the UAE and China — a concern that is expected to linger in the coming years. Earlier this year the UAE joined BRICS in an attempt to diversify its partnerships beyond Western alliances. While assertive middle powers like the UAE can leverage their influence to help global powers like the United States stabilize regional interests, maintaining strong relations with the United States remains crucial for the UAE to secure its own security priorities and strategic objectives. In the current context, the recognition of the UAE as a Major Defense Partner will enable it to navigate shared interests with the United States with bipartisan support regardless of whoever wins the upcoming US elections. Amid the Gaza war, the United States faces waning regional popularity and skepticism concerning its commitments to the region. As regional tensions escalate, the UAE’s strategic importance to the United States continues to grow, particularly given its early participation in the Abraham Accords.
