In a major move that is likely to bring the United States, the UAE and India closer, the US has designated the UAE as a ‘Major Defense Partner’. Significantly, this makes the UAE only the second nation to receive this designation; the first being India in 2021.

The announcement was made as the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited the US and held talks with US President Joe Biden. These meetings have taken place in the backdrop of the tensions and ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon and hence assumes greater significance.

The White House, in a statement said, the designation would “further enhance defense cooperation and security in the Middle East, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean regions”.

It added that it would also “allow for unprecedented cooperation through joint training, exercises, and military-to-military collaboration, between the military forces of the United States, the UAE, and India, as well as other common military partners, in furtherance of regional stability”.

This is also an indication of the US desire to keep the UAE closer to itself, despite differences. For instance, the strain in ties over the war in Sudan and also the fact that the UAE enjoys excellent ties with both Russia and China.

The UAE has also emerged as a leading voice in the United Nations Security Council where it has brought forward resolutions condemning Israel’s war on Gaza. These resolutions have often put the UAE at odds with the US, which enjoys the power of the veto in the UNSC.

But the announcement today also points to the fact that despite the differences in some areas, the larger context is that the US and UAE are keen to build stronger defense and military ties. India becomes a natural partner in that context since it also enjoys excellent ties with both countries. Again, India has its set of differences when it comes to Russia, for example, with the US but in a broader context, the trilateral partnership between the UAE, the US and India is all set to grow.

The joint statement also talked about the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) launched at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in 2023.

According to the White House statement, “His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and President Biden discussed progress on the landmark India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) launched at the 2023 G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi together with the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union. The leaders reaffirmed that the corridor – connecting India to Europe by ship-to-rail connections through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe through Greece – will generate economic growth, incentivize new investments, increase efficiencies and reduce costs, enhance economic unity, generate jobs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and enable the transformative integration of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.”

The IMEC has suffered because of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East but given its strategic significance for all parties involved, and especially India, the UAE and the US, one can expect it to be implemented soon. This will also prove to be a game changer for the region. – Simran Sodhi is Executive Editor of nrifocus.com