Forbes Magazine:The dispute between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has reached its peak.
In an analysis of tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia and its impact on developments in the Persian Gulf, a Western media outlet wrote: “Bilateral relations have always seen ups and downs. First on Yemen and finally on cross-border trade.”
In an analysis by Jim Crane and Christian Koates Ulrichen, Forbes writes: “Saudi-UAE relations have always seen ups and downs.” First on Yemen, then Syria and Israel, then the OPEC quota and now cross-border trade.
The dispute between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has reached a new peak. Despite the concern of Persian Gulf observers as to whether the differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE signal a larger turnaround in regional relations, we must say that this is not the case.
Although we are witnessing new strategic divergences, especially over climate action and intervention in regional conflicts, fragile Saudi-UAE relations are not a new phenomenon. The conflict between the two countries, instead of being an unprecedented diplomatic dispute, is in fact a return to normal conditions before 2015.
However, the results of these differences have been interesting. Along with the unprecedented dispute over oil production, the Saudi-UAE conflict has put an end to the anti-Iran axis in the Persian Gulf. Both kingdoms have eased tensions with Tehran, which in the not-so-distant past sought to destroy it. In this case, too, we see the return of issues to more normal conditions.
With the decline of the UAE-Saudi axis, extremism against Iran has also subsided. The emergence of various clues to this trend. Compared to the 2016-2018 conflict, in which Saudi Arabia abruptly severed diplomatic relations with Tehran, bin Salman’s language on Iran has now softened.
The 2019 missile and drone strikes against Saudi oil facilities attributed to Iran appear to have prompted the Saudis to think more wisely about Tehran. Trump’s refusal to respond to the attacks by the United States was also a blow to US partners in the Persian Gulf, who had hoped for a resounding response from Washington.
