In a historic breakthrough for peace in the Middle East, the United States President announced the first ever official public partnership of a GCC member with Israel. “Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economies will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations.”Joint Statement of the United States, the State of Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, August 13, 2020.
This significant breakthrough sets a precedent for acceptance of Israel as a nation within the Arab Community and benefits each nation economically and with their national security. The new agreement brings together two of the U.S.’s biggest Missile Defense partners in the Middle East in U.S. annual military exercises in Israel and the UAE, deployment of U.S. Missile Defenses in Israel and UAE, significant long term and continual investment of Congressional mandated funding for Israeli Missile Defense systems and significant foreign military sales of United States Missile Defense systems to the UAE, and the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center (IAMDC) at Al Bateen Air Base, Abu Dhabi, UAE that serves host for U.S.-GCC annual exercises to include Falcon Shield. The IAMDC in Abu Dhabi has also been host to the MDAA GCC Missile Defender of the Year ceremonies. This new Partnership puts forward a catalyst for the evolution of missile defense that enables unique synergy between UAE and Israel driven by threat missile and rocket attacks from Iranian supported, backed, and trained terrorist groups to both nations.
“Along with the United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates share a similar outlook regarding the threats and opportunities in the region, as well as a shared commitment to promoting stability through diplomatic engagement, increased economic integration, and closer security coordination,” Joint Statement of the United States, the State of Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, August 13, 2020.
Israel has the most capable deployed operational layered missile defense system for the defended area of their nation than any other nation in the world. UAE has faced missile attacks from its north and south launched by Iran and its affiliates in Yemen. The UAE therefore needs missile defense solutions that can defend against threats launched from 360 degrees around its territory both to protect its people, infrastructure, and the US and Coalition bases at Al-Dhafra Air Base and Camp de la Paix.
Both Israel and the UAE face the reality of missile defense of their nations daily with missile threats daily. Both Israel and the UAE use Missile Defenses daily to defend their nations. The United States is the Missile Defense common denominator between them. There is great synergy for Missile Defense.
We look to this historic partnership for leadership and precedent to benefit all of the world.
“I followed with interest and appreciation the joint statement between the United States, United Arab Emirates and Israel to halt the Israeli annexation of Palestinian lands and taking steps to bring peace in the Middle East,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, August 13, 2020.
