Iran war amplifies UAE isolation and rift with Saudi
https://x.com/pati_marins64/status/2049277515848413509
Iran war amplifies UAE isolation and rift with Saudi
The relationship between the Emirates and the Saudis has been deteriorating for several years. Old grudges go back to the 1974 Jeddah Treaty, which was supposed to settle disputed borders.
The Emirates claim they were forced to hand over oil-rich territory (the Shaybah field) and a land corridor linking the country to Qatar in exchange for Saudi recognition of their independence.
In the early 2000s tensions flared again when Saudi Arabia blocked Emirati maritime infrastructure projects, claiming they crossed its territorial waters. There were even naval incidents involving coast guard vessels.
In Yemen the rift became glaringly obvious. In 2018-2019, UAE-backed forces clashed directly with troops of the internationally recognized government, which were supported by Saudi Arabia. Heavy fighting broke out in Aden, with dozens killed and wounded as separatists seized parts of the city.
A brief calm followed. Then, between December 2025 and January 2026, the STC, heavily backed by Abu Dhabi, advanced and seized the governorates of Hadramaut and Mahra, precisely the ones bordering Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh responded with airstrikes on ships and cargoes linked to the UAE, accused Abu Dhabi of threatening national security, and gave a 24-hour ultimatum for Emirati forces to leave Yemen.
After the withdrawal, the STC itself was weakened and partially dismantled.
The Emirates weren’t just supporting the takeover of cities on the Saudi border, they were planning to overthrow the Yemeni government.
What began as a coalition against the Houthis turned into an open dispute over influence, ports, and control of southern Yemen. The UAE bet on separatists and proxies; the Saudis prioritized central government unity and their own border security.
With overflowing coffers in recent years, the Emirates began running their own highly interventionist foreign policy. The country is now involved in at least eight conflicts across Africa and plans to expand its influence, always in partnership with Israel.
In Somaliland, the Berbera base operates under tight coordination between the Emirates and Israel. But the cooperation goes far beyond that base. On the arid, remote islands of the Socotra archipelago in Yemen, the UAE built a network of military and intelligence bases.
Israeli officers are on site, operating radars, drones, and Israeli equipment integrated into the system. The entire network was developed in direct coordination with Israel to monitor the Houthis and control the Gulf of Aden.
The Emirates chose Israel as a strategic partner years ago, but during the war against Iran and the truce period it was the first time Israeli soldiers operated equipment on Emirati soil. In fact, it was the first time the Iron Dome was deployed anywhere outside Israel or the United States.
None of this pleased Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia is now acting on two direct fronts to curb UAE influence: Sudan and Somaliland.
On April 20, MBS received Sudanese Army chief General Burhan in Jeddah. In addition to the high-level meeting, Riyadh is financing and guaranteeing a major $1.5 billion arms deal with Pakistan to equip Burhan’s forces, while also increasing direct financial and logistical support to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which are fighting the Rapid Support Forces financed by the Emirates.
To read the full article:
open.substack.com/pub/global21/p
posted by Satish Sharma at
07:29
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home