[Global Issue+] UAE's Diplomacy Surviving Between Saudi and Iran

Iran as well as Saudi Arabia and Oman territorial disputes... Equidistant diplomacy with all
Survival secret of a small country with 1 million citizens and 60,000 standing troops

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Recently, the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel has become a global issue. During the Middle East wars, the UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, was a leading member of the Arab League and had never established any official relations with Israel, a hostile country. The news that the UAE has now joined hands with Israel has led to forecasts that the diplomatic landscape in the Middle East will undergo significant changes.

While this decision is seen as a difficult one that could potentially turn the entire Arab world into adversaries, some view it as a natural step when considering the UAE’s historically pragmatic diplomacy. The UAE is known for pursuing practical diplomacy within the Arab world without being bound by any particular faction or religion, especially amid the dominant powers of Iran and Saudi Arabia in the Arab region.

According to Bloomberg News on the 15th (local time), Anwar Gargash, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, stated in an interview with Bloomberg, "The peace agreement has nothing to do with Iran. It is a matter between the UAE, Israel, and the United States." He further emphasized, "The peace agreement is not intended to form any kind of coalition against Iran." This statement is interpreted as a clear rejection of interpretations suggesting that the UAE will join the US and Israel in a joint front against Iran.

Although the UAE is generally classified as a Sunni monarchy alongside Saudi Arabia, the leading member of the Arab League, its relationship with Saudi Arabia is not particularly close. According to foreign media such as the BBC, the UAE is currently involved in territorial disputes with neighboring countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Oman. Since these regions gained independence after World War II, proper border demarcations have never been established.

The UAE has often switched between friend and foe as circumstances required. It has practiced equidistant diplomacy, neither showing strong affinity nor hostility toward any country. When at odds with Iran, it has maintained close ties with Saudi Arabia, and when at odds with Saudi Arabia, it has fostered close relations with Iran. During the Iraq War, the UAE’s stance fluctuated with the Hussein regime, but during the Iran-Iraq War, it was the second-largest supporter of Iraq after Saudi Arabia. Its relations with Western countries are similar; it has maintained an alliance with the US since the Iraq War but has also kept close ties with Russia since the Soviet era. It also maintains friendly relations with China. Rather than being trapped in any ideological camp, the UAE has consistently pursued diplomacy based strictly on its national interests.

There are reasons for this approach. The UAE shares land borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman, and the Persian Gulf separates it from Iran. It is surrounded by large Arab countries with populations in the tens of millions. According to official UN statistics last year, the UAE’s population is about 9.83 million, of which only about 1.06 million are actual UAE citizens; the rest are mostly foreign workers. The standing army numbers about 60,000, many of whom are mercenaries rather than citizens. Compared to Iran’s standing army of over 800,000 or Saudi Arabia, which ranks third worldwide in military expenditure, the UAE is a very small country.

In this context, the UAE could neither simply follow Saudi Arabia just because it is Sunni, nor could it ally with Iran, a powerful and dangerous Shiite hegemon. Thus, pragmatic diplomacy was inevitable. Especially earlier this month, news leaked through US intelligence that Saudi Arabia is pursuing uranium mining and refining development with China, which has heightened the UAE’s wariness of both Iran and Saudi Arabia. Going forward, the diplomatic situation in the Middle East is expected to continue shifting as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the major powers surrounding them realign their interests.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.