UAE ready to participate in forceful liberation of Strait of Hormuz - WSJ
The Emirates, which has been subjected to Iran's most aggressive attacks since the war began, could become a direct participant in the fighting
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The United Arab Emirates is preparing to help the U.S. and its allies unblock the Strait of Hormuz - an important route for energy and food exports - by force, The Wall Street Journal reported citing sources. In such a case, the UAE would become the first Gulf state to directly participate in military action against Iran, the publication said.
Details
The UAE is now lobbying for the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution that would authorize the forceful opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the newspaper's interlocutors said. The Emirates are ready to participate in its liberation even if the resolution does not pass the vote, they said. The newspaper notes that Russia and China may use the veto right.
The sources said the Emirates are also calling on the US and military powers in Europe and Asia to form a coalition to forcefully unblock the strategically important strait. WSJ sources also told the WSJ that the UAE is pushing for the U.S. to seize islands in the strait, including Abu Musa Island, which is controlled by Iran and claimed by the Emirates.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said there was "broad global consensus" on the need for free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The ministry also cited other resolutions that condemn Iran's attacks on its neighbors and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Context
The UAE's growing resolve against Iran represents a dramatic change in the state's strategic course, sources said. Previously, the Emirates viewed Iran as a difficult neighbor with a logical political stance, but the war has shown a very different face of the regime trying to sow panic by shelling hotels and airports in Dubai, one of the sources said.
Since the war began, the Emirates have been subjected to the most massive attacks by Iran, with Tehran firing nearly 2,500 missiles and drones at the state - more than even Israel. The Iranian attacks have led to airspace closures and reduced tourism in the UAE, damaged the real estate market and called into question the country's main competitive advantage - its status as a peaceful oasis in a troubled region, WSJ writes. Nevertheless, so far, the UAE, like other countries in the region, has tried to avoid direct involvement in the fighting.
This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor
