MEE: UAE mobilizes allies against Saudi
The Middle East Eye warned that the UAE is mobilizing its regional alliances, especially its alliance with Israel and India, against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in light of the intense competition between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.
The website stated that the Quartet Economic Forum, which was established recently, with the UAE, Israel and India, along with the United States of America, seeks to put pressure on Saudi Arabia and China.
The MEE considered that China and Saudi Arabia are the targets of the new alliance represented by the Quartet Forum in light of the quest to formalize its relationship with Israel.
The report pointed out that the forum’s launch shows that the struggle for the Palestinian cause has become almost forgotten. Although US officials have declared that the Abraham Accords will not replace a negotiated settlement, Washington’s lukewarm responses to building new Israeli settlements in Palestine show otherwise.
The British site expects that the new alliance would push China, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey to increase their economic and security cooperation.
Israel is India’s largest arms supplier, while the UAE plays a vital role in India’s energy security, hosting millions of Indian workers who contribute significantly to remittance flows to India.
The Quad countries have recently strengthened cooperation in trade and investment and have shown strong support for critical political issues.
Earlier this year, the UAE tried to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan, and Dubai recently signed an agreement with Delhi to develop infrastructure in Kashmir, including IT towers, logistics centres and a hospital.
The formation of the new Quartet is linked to the policy of containing China set by the administration of US President Joe Biden, as Washington began to actively confront the rise of China on many military, political and economic levels, in light of Beijing’s efforts to strengthen its relations with the UAE and Israel.
Through this new alliance, Washington aims to distance both Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv from Beijing.
As for India, it is motivated by the same motive, according to the report, which pointed to the strained relations between Beijing and Delhi, especially after the border confrontation last year.
Moreover, the flight of former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani following the Taliban takeover represented a major setback for India’s interests in Afghanistan while again giving Pakistan a prominent position in the country. This event is another impetus that encouraged Delhi to seek the formation of new alliances.
Since the UAE and Israel are solid technological hubs, this makes them important partners for India.
At the same time, the new alliance will increase pressure on Saudi Arabia to formalize its relationship with Israel.
The British site concluded its report by noting that “the form that the new alliance between India, Israel, the Emirates and America will take is still not yet understood, but it is clear that it marks the beginning of a new stage in the global economic race.”
