The 10-day joint exercise, titled “Iron Defender”, was held in cooperation with the 5th Fleet of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). In that exercise, 3 ships and 2 warships of the United States, as well as nearly 600 military personnel, participated. Admiral Cooper, commander of the 5th Fleet, in describing the objectives of the exercise, mentioned three issues of security, countering sea mines and port defense, and stated: We are stronger when we work together.
Regardless of the US claim to maintain the security of international waters and free shipping, which is part of the US justification for creating international maritime security systems and structures such as the International Maritime Security Organization known as IMSC, the recent exercise also has specific message and objectives.
UAE longing for return of US security umbrella
These days, when the UAE has always tried to create a global business identity for itself, see some of the options in front of it as costly and with an uncertain fate. In general, on the one hand, the UAE cannot make decisions independent of Saudi Arabia and its competition with Tehran in terms of regional policies and strategies; and on the other hand, in terms of defense and security, it feels itself in need of security umbrella of the United States in the region. Although, like what happened last year and simultaneously with Tahnoun bin Zayed’s trip to Iran, sometimes it also puts measures based on diplomacy and dialogue on its agenda.
But regarding the issue of naval exercises, the United Arab Emirates is going through an active period. Participating in the exercise with Greece in the Mediterranean, the quadrilateral exercise in the Red Sea, as well as last year’s large exercise under the title IMX-CE 2022, which was held with the participation of more than 60 countries, along with the recent exercise in the Persian Gulf, is an example of the UAE’s actions in strengthening defense readiness and increasing the security factor. But how effective are those exercises in meeting the objectives of that country?
If the scenario of non-nuclear agreement between Iran and major powers is realized, the UAE’s security concerns will also increase. On the other hand, due to the unequal power components between Tehran and Abu Dhabi, it is likely that the country’s need for the security umbrella and defense support of the United States will double; but can the security umbrella of the United States in the region guarantee the defense of the UAE and is the United States committed to the defense of its regional allies as it is in NATO?
At the same time as Joe Biden’s administration took office, the United States began its measures to reduce its presence in the Middle East region and accelerate the process of containing China in the Indo-Pacific region. At the same time as the American presence in the region decreased, the US security umbrella in the region weakened, the de-escalation process began and the region was prepared for a new arrangement.
Of course, Washington is trying to pursue the policy of maintaining stability in the Middle East by continuing its presence in the region in a minimal way, but the issue of non-fulfillment of the nuclear agreement with Iran can overturn all the equations of the Biden administration; therefore, holding such exercises can increase military capabilities and have its own objectives and message, although the costly actions of the United States can be a factor of failure for the position of that country, the international order and the hegemonic competition of that country with the challenging China.
Therefore, although the United States still has an active presence in the region and the UAE also needs such a presence, in general, the preference of the two countries will be a low-cost agreement based on diplomacy and holding a joint exercise, will neither guarantee regional stability nor a commitment from Washington for defending the UAE and ensuring the security of that country.