AiBotIn a recent exclusive interview with Princeton University, Professor Kenneth Roth, the former Director of Human Rights Watch, shed light on the driving forces behind the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) foreign policy. According to Roth, the UAE’s actions are rooted in a deep-seated fear of political Islam, eclipsing concerns about other Gulf states.
Roth pointed to the UAE’s response to the Arab Spring protests as a telling example of its primary motivator. “The UAE’s lesson from the Arab Spring was that if you allow political Islam, you’ll end up with another Egypt,” he explained. This, he noted, is the UAE’s “nightmare scenario.” In other words, the UAE fears the emergence of Islamist governments, which it perceives as a threat to its own stability and the regional order it seeks to maintain.
As a result, the UAE has pursued a foreign policy aimed at suppressing political Islam across the region, with its sights set not only on its immediate neighbors but also on countries further afield, such as Libya and Sudan. This drive to contain Islamist movements is not limited to the UAE, as other Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have also been grappling with similar concerns. However, according to Roth, the UAE’s approach is particularly noteworthy for its zealotry.
Interestingly, even the Sisi regime in Egypt, which shares the UAE’s distaste for political Islam, finds itself at odds with the UAE over its support for the Sudanese army. The UAE has been instrumental in backing the Sudanese military’s efforts to suppress the protests that have gripped the country since the ousting of former President al-Bashir, a move that has been widely criticized by human rights groups.
Roth suggests that the UAE’s involvement in Sudan is part of a larger strategy to pre-empt the emergence of Islamist movements in the region. “The UAE, like other Gulf states, is deeply concerned about the spread of Islamist movements, which they see as a threat to their own stability and legitimacy,” he said. “Their actions in Sudan are a testament to this anxiety, and a reflection of their willingness to prioritize security over human rights and democratic values.”
As the UAE continues to exert its influence across the region, its actions are being watched closely by human rights groups and governments alike. While its motivations may be rooted in a desire to maintain regional stability, its methods have drawn criticism from those who argue that they are at odds with basic human rights and democratic principles.