US Scrambling To Patch Relations In Gulf, Blinken Apologizes To UAE
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The falling out was first about oil, but now the United States wants to fix all the tattered relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken apologizing to the UAE for delayed help after missile attacks. The UAE's ambassador to the United States said discussions are moving relationships "back on the right track."
The United States will lead a new naval task force to patrol the Red Sea, the United Nations envoy to Yemen sees "light at the end of the tunnel" for the Yemen war, House Democrats want a "recalibration" of U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia, and 46 retired U.S. military leaders reject a nuclear agreement with Iran, saying the country is "the world's leading sponsor of terrorism."
And news from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Israel, and More.
The United States is trying to patch up relations with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia after a falling out over oil. Both countries want stronger commitments from the U.S. for defense support, including assistance for the war in Yemen for the Saudis. At the UAE, ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba said discussions have helped move U.S.-UAE relationships "back on the right track." Meanwhile, however, Democrats in Congress are urging the Biden administration to crack down harder on Saudi Arabia.
Insider, The US is scrambling to fix its relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE as gas prices skyrocket over the Ukraine war.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken apologized to the United Arab Emirates for delay in military help after the UAE was hit by missile attacks. When Blinken met recently in Morocco with the UAE leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, he faced criticism for a slow U.S. response to attacks by Yemen's Houthi forces. Blinken reportedly apologized and said he was sorry, in an attempt to ease tensions with the Emirates.
Democrats in the U.S. Congress are pushing the Biden administration to get tougher on Saudi Arabia. The Saudis refused to help ease the world's oil supply crunch after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the group of almost three dozen House Democrats wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for a "recalibration." Rep. Gerald Connally, a Virginia Democrat, and Rep. Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, led the lawmakers.
Associated Press, House Democrats ask Biden to get tougher with Saudi Arabia.
Axios, Blinken apologized to UAE crown prince for delayed response to Houthi attacks.
The United States is forming a new multinational naval task force for the Red Sea. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the Navy's Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain, said up to eight ships will patrol the waters, targeting arms smuggling. The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has long criticized smuggling to the Iran-supported rebel Houthis, and the Red Sea has been the target of ship seizures and numerous attacks, endangering international shipping. The Red Sea extends from Egypt's Suez Canal in the north to the narrow Bab al-Mandab strait in the south, which separates the Arabian peninsula at Yemen from Africa.
Asharq Al-Awsat, US forms multinational naval task force to confront Houthi attacks, smuggling.
The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said the rebel Houthis have reaffirmed their commitment to the current ceasefire. He said he had discussions with the Houthis on ways to build on the truce as a step toward a political solution to the war in Yemen, and "I have received reaffirmed commitment to all aspects of implementing the truce."
Xinhua, UN envoy says Yemeni Houthi leaders "reaffirm" commitment to truce.
There's "light at the end of the tunnel" in Yemen, the UN envoy says, but warns that the war’s ceasefire is fragile. Special envoy Hans Grundberg made his first visit to the Houthis in Sanaa last week and said reports of military operations in the central province of Marib needed to be addressed urgently to maintain the ceasefire. But he said the truce is "truly holding."
Associated Press, U.N. envoy hopeful that there's a 'light at the end of the tunnel' for Yemen's war.
Iran's supreme leader said Saudi Arabia can't win the war in Yemen and should find a way out. In a series of Tweets, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: "Why are you continuing a war you're certain you won't win? Find a way out of this war." Then he wrote: "There's no possibility...there's no possibility of you winning." Iran bans Twitter, but politicians regularly use the platform.
Al-Monitor, As dialogue falters, Khamenei says 'no possibilty' of Saudi victory in Yemen.
Saudi King Salman and his cabinet are stressing their full support for the new Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen. The king presided over a cabinet meeting, which praised the new government, saying the council is tasked with carrying out the transition and ending the crisis in Yemen.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi govt stresses kingdom's full support to Yemen's leadership council.
In an open letter to President Biden, 46 retired U;S. generals and admirals voiced their opposition to a nuclear agreement with Iran. The group of senior military leaders cited Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- "ruthlessly attacking its neighbor and brandishing nuclear weapons" -- and said a new Iran deal would "enable the world's leading sponsor of terrorism to cast its own nuclear shadow over the Middle East."
Fox News, 46 retired generals, admirals urge White House against Iran nuclear deal.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait invited Iran to discussions, but they are stressing their rights to develop the Durra gas field. The two countries asked Iran to negotiate over the delineation of the eastern border of the Submerged Divided Zone. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in March agreed to expedite development of the field, then Iran issued statements claiming ownership.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait stress their right to exploit Durra field.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman has directed that $10 million be sent to aid Ukrainian refugees. The king told the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center to provide "urgent medical and shelter aid" to refugees, and the money will mainly benefit refugees arriving in Poland. The Saudi drive is coordinated with the Polish government and United Nations units that have a active presence in Poland.
Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabia's King Salman directs KSRelief to give $10 mln aid to Ukrainian refugees.
Trade between the United Arab Emirates and Israel went over $1.1 billion in their first year of diplomatic relations. Israel's trade with two other countries now recognizing it, Bahrain and Morocco, remained modest, however. The UAE and Israel are diamond centers in the Middle East, and trade in diamonds accounted for more than $331 million of Israel's exports to the UAE.
Global Trade Review, Trade between Israel and UAE booms in year after peace pact.
Fitch ratings has revised its outlook on Saudi Arabia, changing its rating from "stable" to "positive." Fitch cited improvements in the country's sovereign balance sheet based on higher oil revenues.
Reuters, Fitch revises Saudi Arabia's outlook to 'positive' from 'stable.'
Fitch Ratings affirmed Qatar at "AA-" with a stable outlook. Qatar has one of the world's highest ratios of GDP per capita, Fitch said, plus a flexible public finance structure and favorable outlook for debt reduction.
FitchRatings, Fitch affirms Qatar at 'AA-'; outlook stable.
MORE: India-UAE trade pact to be reviewed next year, more items may be included, Bloomberg... NASA, UAE Mars missions agree to share science data, NASA... S.Korea, UAE to extend currency swap agreement for 5 years, Reuters... Saudi Arabia announces public auction for 13 mining licenses, TradeArabia... Bahrain may export surplus electricity to Europe in winter, Zawya.
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S&P Global, Qatar leverages its LNG goals with gas diplomacy amid war.
The conflict between Iran and regional states, including both Arab nations and Israel, spans nearly four decades, and Iran continues to pose a substantial military threat. After Arab and U.S. leaders met with Israel recently at the "desert summit" in Israel's Negev desert, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid described the meeting as laying the foundation for a strategic military alliance to deter Israel.
Middle East Institute, What would an Arab-Israeli military alliance mean for Iran?