New alliances emerge in Middle East — which one will 'win'?
Key takeaways
- The UAE and Israel are getting closer, while Saudi Arabia is enhancing cooperation with Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan.
- Earlier this week, it was reported that Israel and the UAE were establishing a joint defense fund, which would see the two countries buying weapons together.
- The fund was apparently agreed to during a secret visit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made to the UAE, which he made public on the evening of May 13.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The UAE and Israel are getting closer, while Saudi Arabia is enhancing cooperation with Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan. The new alliances represent a rift in the Gulf, as approaches to the Iran war and the region diverge.
https://p.dw.com/p/5E7Nv The UAE, which has been the most targeted by Iran of all the Gulf states, has complained bitterly about a lack of Arab solidarity during the war Image: AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance Advertisement To all appearances, it really looks as if the United Arab Emirates has picked a side as a result of the US and Israel's war with Iran, a side that could isolate it from much of the rest of the Arab world.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Israel and the UAE were establishing a joint defense fund, which would see the two countries buying weapons together. The report, first published by the media outlet Middle East Eye, cited two unnamed US officials and has not been confirmed by either government.