ABU DHABI — The
UAE has no interest in
“choosing sides” between global powers despite its strategic partnership with
the US, a senior Emirati diplomat said on Monday.
اضافة اعلان
The comments by
Anwar Gargash, a senior advisor to the UAE’s president, come as Washington is
at odds with Russia over the invasion of Ukraine and with Saudi Arabia over
OPEC+ cuts in oil production.
“The UAE has no interest in choosing sides between
great powers,” Gargash told experts and analysts at the Abu Dhabi Strategic
Debate conference, without naming any countries.
“We will not under any circumstances sacrifice our
sovereignty.”
The UAE is a key player in the 13-nation
OPEC oil
cartel which, with its 10 allies headed by Russia, angered Washington by
cutting production by 2 million barrels a day from November, adding renewed
upward pressure on crude prices.
The decision sparked a swift rebuke from the
administration of President Joe Biden, which had hoped for lower prices ahead
of midterm elections in the US and accused Riyadh of knowingly boosting Russian
revenues during its war with Ukraine.
The UAE, which has improved economic and political
ties with the Kremlin despite attempts by the US and Europe to suffocate
Russia’s economy, insisted the output cut was not a political jab at the US.
Gargash said his country, a rising regional
powerhouse, welcomes “constructive and collaborative engagement” with world
powers other than the US to promote security and stability in the region.
The UAE, is not “dependent on just one or two
countries for both our economic prosperity and our security”, said Gargash, who
formerly served as the minister of state for foreign affairs.
“Trade relations increasingly look to the East while
our primary security and investment relations (are) in the West,” he added,
explaining that the “situation may evolve over time”.
The US has long been seen as a key protector of the
rich Gulf monarchies in the conflict-wracked Middle East.
The UAE currently hosts some 5,000 US military
personnel at Al Dhafra Air Base and US warships at the Jebel Ali port in Dubai.
On Saturday, the
Washington Post said that US
intelligence officials have compiled a classified report detailing “extensive
efforts” by the UAE to manipulate the American political system.
The UAE’s ambassador to Washington, Yousef
Al-Otaiba, said he is “proud of the UAE’s influence and good standing in the
US”, according to the newspaper.
Gargash insisted that Abu Dhabi’s “primary strategic
security relationship remains unequivocally with the US”, but called for
clearer commitments from American partners.
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