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Despite recent reports of friction in U.S. naval relations with the United Arab Emirates, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pushing to build deeper maritime cooperation between the U.S. and members of the Abraham Accords.
The UAE announced at the end of May that it already pulled out Two months ago, a multinational naval security force led by the United States was fighting Iran in the Middle East. However, U.S. officials said they had not been notified of the move.Soon after, Iran claim to Form a joint navy with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
These developments may hinder Objectives of Admiralty Law, a bipartisan and bicameral project of the Congressional Abraham Accord Caucus to develop a cooperative strategy among the Abraham Accord countries to counter Iran and Iran-linked naval threats. Iran has repeatedly seized oil tankers and merchant ships in the Arabian Sea recently.
“We need to continue to work with the UAE,” Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), a leading sponsor of maritime law, told jewish insider Wednesday. “They are our very important partners in the Middle East and we don’t want to take their friendship for granted.”
She added that she remained “very committed to the Maritime Law and making sure we continue to have a great partnership with them.”
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), the other co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, told JI that he is skeptical of Iran’s claims of a naval alliance with its erstwhile regional rival, noting that “threats at sea are the In the region — they are the ones who are sending weapons to Yemen so they can shoot at the UAE and the Saudis.”
Lankford described the possible cessation of the UAE’s cooperation with the U.S. Navy in Bahrain as a “bigger concern,” but noted that the UAE has historically been “very cooperative with us” in the naval field and other emerging cooperation forums.
“It is important that we maintain [cooperation] because it is [in the interests of] The national security of the UAE can sustain that,” he said. China’s presence in the region will not be the same as that of the United States and other partners in the region.”
“We’re still able to keep working [on integrating maritime forces]. Freedom of navigation throughout the region is important to the entire world,” Lankford continued. “The Emiratis know this. We hope to continue working with everyone in the region. “
A spokesperson for Sen. Jackie Rosen (D-NV), another key sponsor of the Maritime Act, told JI that she will “continue to work to strengthen regional security cooperation through her legislative efforts.”
“The Abraham Accords and Congressional legislative efforts to strengthen partnerships in the Middle East present a unique opportunity to advance collective security against Iranian aggression,” Rosen’s spokesman said. “Senator Rosen believes that the United States should continue to engage closely with its Middle East partners , to demonstrate our enduring commitment to regional security and the benefits of U.S.-led multilateral naval partnerships.”
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