UAE-US Ties Are Undergoing ‘Stress Test’: Emirati Envoy

In the latest expression of nervousness over the United States’ commitment to regional stability and security, long-time UAE Ambassador to Washington Yousef Al Otaiba told an audience in Abu Dhabi on Thursday that the relationship between his country and the US was going through a “stress test.” Speaking at the International Defense Industry, Technology and Security Conference, Otaiba added that he was confident the US-UAE relationship would survive any bumps in the road. Washington isn’t happy with Abu Dhabi’s attempt to remain neutral in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Meanwhile, the Emiratis want the US to reclassify the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist group, particularly considering Houthi drone attacks on the Gulf Arab state. “It is like any relationship. It has strong days where the relationship is very healthy and days where the relationship is under question. Today, we’re going through a stress test but I am confident that we will get out of it and get to a better place,” Otaiba said. Commenting on the UAE’s intention to acquire F-35 fighter jets from the United States, Otaiba said, “I think we have a very strong and very clean track record of not only getting the most sensitive American and other Western technology. We also have an incredibly strong track record of protecting that technology. We have had zero incidents where anything has fallen into the wrong hands.” He also spoke and Emirati ambitions to develop its own defense industry. “We want countries and companies to come in here and create the industry. … We want people to transfer their technologies here. We want people to develop their technologies here,” he said.