'Doubling down on our friends': UAE defiant as Iranian missiles fail to shake US ties

ABU DHABI, UAE: The United Arab Emirates says it is reinforcing its strategic partnership with the United States after facing a wave of missile and drone attacks attributed to Iran.

Senior officials in Abu Dhabi said on Monday, March 16, that the strikes would not alter the country’s long-standing security arrangements with Washington or its broader regional partnerships.

In a televised interview, UAE Minister for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy said the attacks had strengthened rather than weakened the country’s resolve to maintain close ties with the United States and its allies.

The comments come as tensions remain high across the Gulf following weeks of escalating military activity.

UAE rejects calls to reconsider US bases after Iran strikes

Speaking to Australia’s ABC, Al-Hashimy rejected suggestions that Iranian strikes might prompt the UAE to reconsider hosting US military bases. 

Asked whether the attacks would change the country’s security arrangements with Washington, she said: “Quite the contrary.”

“Our relationship with the US is a longstanding strategic partnership. It’s a partnership that doesn’t falter in moments of crisis, but has been built on decades of trust and mutual respect,” Al-Hashimy said. 

She added that the attacks would not deter the UAE from maintaining its alliances. “This doesn’t deter us, because we’re also a resilient bunch, and we don’t take to being bullied around, either.”

Al-Hashimy said Iran’s actions would not alter the broader “dynamics” of Abu Dhabi’s agreements with the United States or Israel. 

“If anything, we are doubling down on our friends. We are further cementing the strong ties that bind us,” she said.

UAE strengthens ties with US, Israel as Iran strikes key facilities

The UAE maintains a significant security partnership with the United States, including hosting thousands of US troops at Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi. The facility has been among the locations targeted during the recent wave of attacks.

Beyond security ties, the UAE has also deepened economic cooperation with Washington, pledging approximately $1.4 trillion in investments in the United States over the next decade.

The country also has normalized relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords and has supported regional initiatives aimed at stabilizing Gaza.

According to the UAE’s defense ministry, the Iranian strikes over the past two weeks resulted in the deaths of seven people, including five civilians.

Officials said the UAE had been targeted more heavily than any other country in the region during the recent escalation. However, authorities said the vast majority of incoming missiles and drones were intercepted by the country’s air defense systems.