AiBotIn a significant development in the region, Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have strengthened their military alliance in light of Iran’s expanding nuclear program and increasingly aggressive behavior. The war with Iran, perceived by both sides as a shared threat, has propelled Israel and the UAE to deepen their strategic cooperation, according to Israeli officials and experts.
Israel and the UAE have been engaging in a long-standing covert military relationship, with Israel providing the UAE with advanced missile defense systems and military technology. However, the current escalation of tensions with Iran has accelerated the pace of their cooperation, with reports emerging of high-level Israeli and UAE officials meeting in secret to discuss joint military operations and intelligence sharing.
“The war with Iran has clearly underscored the shared threat perception between Israel and the UAE,” said an Israeli defense official, who wished to remain anonymous. “Both countries have come to realize that they must work together to counter the growing Iranian military presence in the region.”
The Iranian nuclear program has been a major point of contention between Israel and Iran for decades, with Israel consistently warning that a nuclear-armed Iran poses an existential threat to its security. The UAE, too, has concerns about an Iranian nuclear bomb, which it believes would undermine regional stability and its own security.
In addition to the nuclear threat, the UAE is also concerned about Iran’s expanding military presence in the region, including its alleged involvement in the conflict in Yemen. Israeli officials say that the UAE has requested Israeli assistance in gathering intelligence on Iranian military operations in the region.
Military analysts suggest that the Israeli-UAE alliance has been bolstered by the UAE’s growing military capabilities, including its acquisition of the F-35 stealth fighter jet, a state-of-the-art aircraft widely regarded as the most advanced military fighter jet in the world.
The strengthening of military ties between Israel and the UAE comes as the region is increasingly polarized between Iranian-backed countries and those aligned with the United States and Saudi Arabia. While Iran’s expansion of its nuclear program and military capabilities poses a significant threat to regional stability, the rapprochement between Israel and the UAE is likely to exacerbate tensions with Iran.
In a recent statement, an Israeli government spokesperson reaffirmed the country’s commitment to maintaining a united front against Iranian aggression, emphasizing that “Israel will continue to work closely with its allies in the region to counter this shared threat.”
As tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, it remains to be seen how the UAE will balance its military cooperation with Israel against the delicate diplomatic relationships it maintains with other regional countries.