By Natalie Armbruster
Recently, Brett McGurk, a White House representative, traveled to Abu Dhabi to reportedly discuss a "Strategic Framework Agreement" which would offer the UAE "US security guarantees," among other things.
It is clear why the UAE wants such an agreement. After a series of aerial attacks was launched against the UAE by Yemen's Houthi rebel group, an Iranian proxy, the UAE would be eager for the US to do more to defend their small country, embroiled in Yemen's civil war.
What remains unclear is what exactly the US is offering the UAE and why it would consider such an agreement in the first place. A security guarantee would entail the US committing to defend the UAE if it were attacked, similar to the agreement the US has made to NATO for its collective defense.
Thus, this agreement could require the US to potentially send American servicemen and women to fight and die to defend the UAE. However, the UAE's problems are not for the US to solve.
This piece was originally published in Insider on June 14, 2022. Read more HERE.