TEHRAN In the latest blow to the United States hegemony in the West Asia region, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced its withdrawal from a United States -led maritime coalition, further giving credence to perceptions of United States decline.
In a statement on Wednesday, the UAE foreign ministry said, As a result of our ongoing evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners, two months ago, the UAE withdrew its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces.The statement added that the UAE remains committed to responsibly ensuring the safety of navigation in its seas, in accordance with international law.The statement comes amid press reports of tensions between the United States and the UAE over Emirati complaint about lack of action on the part of the United States The Western press reported that the United States was unhappy over how the United States dealt with Iranian seizure of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
The UAE rejected these reports, saying, The UAE has rejected the mischaracterization, in recent press reports, of US-UAE conversations regarding maritime security.Aside from the credibility of the UAE-US differences, Abu Dhabis withdrawal from the United States -led Combined Maritime Forces is another indication of United States traditional partners in the region moving away from Washington out of growing perceptions of the global decrease in United States might.When juxtaposed with positions by other allies of the United States , the Emirati move sends an unequivocal signal about the depth of the dent in the American credibility in the West Asia region.Saudi Arabia, a historical ally of America, has preceded the UAE in parting ways with the United States In March, it signed a landmark deal with Iran that was brokered by China, the global competitor for the United States Since then, the Saudis have been working with the Iranians to fully resume diplomatic relations.And the UAE itself seems to be following suit.
Of course, the United States has never fully severed relations with Iran.
But it downgraded them in solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
And when Riyadh moved to snuggle up to Iran, the Emiratis decided to upgrade ties with Iran.A senior Emirati official has recently underlined the United Arab Emirates determination to strengthen relations with Iran.Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, who is a Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates, made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in Tehran on Tuesday.The UAEs minister emphasized Abu Dhabis determination to boost relations with the Islamic Republic, the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement.In a sense, the Emiratis, like their Saudi peers, have ceased to believe that America can be relied upon.Interestingly, even the Israelis appears to be coming to terms with the dwindling United States influence.
When the United States proposed to Israelis that they conduct joint military planning on Iran, the Israeli received the American proposal cautiously.
They may have well stopped short of rejecting it out of compliments.All in all, the United States decline reached a point where even its longtime allies are exasperated by its inability to take the initiative.