Syria–United Arab Emirates relations: Difference between revisions
self rv |
|||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
The UAE took part in the 2014 [[American-led intervention in Syria]] against ISIS.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/22/world/meast/u-s-airstrikes-isis-syria/ |title = US airstrikes hit ISIS inside Syria for first time | first1 = Jim | last1 = Sciutto |last2 = Castillo| first2 = Mariano| last3 = Yan | first3 = Holly | publisher= CNN|date= 22 September 2014 | accessdate = 22 September 2014}}</ref> It later broke with Saudi Arabia by supporting the 2015 [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War]], maintaining it was against a "common enemy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/warfare/2015/11/30/uae-says-ready-commit-troops-fight-syria-jihadists/76572630/|title=UAE Says Ready To Commit Troops To Fight Syria Jihadists|date=30 November 2015|work=Defense News|accessdate=23 December 2015}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> It also reportedly provided funding for the moderate [[Southern Front (Syrian rebel group)|Southern Front]], through an Amman-based Military Operations Center, although this Center has been inactive since 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Southern Front|url=http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/645|accessdate=August 12, 2017|work=[[Stanford University]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[Al-Monitor]]|date=22 March 2018|title=Jordan, Israel hedge their bets in southwest Syria|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/03/us-cedes-southwest-syria-jordan-israel-hedge-bets.html}}</ref> |
The UAE took part in the 2014 [[American-led intervention in Syria]] against ISIS.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/22/world/meast/u-s-airstrikes-isis-syria/ |title = US airstrikes hit ISIS inside Syria for first time | first1 = Jim | last1 = Sciutto |last2 = Castillo| first2 = Mariano| last3 = Yan | first3 = Holly | publisher= CNN|date= 22 September 2014 | accessdate = 22 September 2014}}</ref> It later broke with Saudi Arabia by supporting the 2015 [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War]], maintaining it was against a "common enemy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/warfare/2015/11/30/uae-says-ready-commit-troops-fight-syria-jihadists/76572630/|title=UAE Says Ready To Commit Troops To Fight Syria Jihadists|date=30 November 2015|work=Defense News|accessdate=23 December 2015}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> It also reportedly provided funding for the moderate [[Southern Front (Syrian rebel group)|Southern Front]], through an Amman-based Military Operations Center, although this Center has been inactive since 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Southern Front|url=http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/645|accessdate=August 12, 2017|work=[[Stanford University]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[Al-Monitor]]|date=22 March 2018|title=Jordan, Israel hedge their bets in southwest Syria|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/03/us-cedes-southwest-syria-jordan-israel-hedge-bets.html}}</ref> |
||
Alongside the [[United States]], it has been involved in supporting and training the Kurdish-dominated [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] (SDF).<ref name="muslimbrotherhood"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13951204000349|work=[[Farsnews]]|title=UAE, Kurds Standing against US, Turkey in Syria|date=22 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The U.S. bombing of Syria implicates many of Trump's business interests|date=16 April 2018|work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/4/16/17238058/syria-bombing-trump-business-interests}}</ref> Along with Egypt and Russia, it also supports the [[Syria's Tomorrow Movement]], which has a military wing, the Elite Forces, that is part of the SDF.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Al-Araby Al-Jadeed]]|date=12 March 2016|title=UAE, Egypt back launch of new Syrian opposition movement|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2016/3/12/uae-egypt-back-launch-of-new-syrian-opposition-movement}}</ref> |
Alongside the [[United States]], it has been involved in supporting and training the Kurdish-dominated [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] (SDF) from 2017 onwards.<ref name="muslimbrotherhood"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13951204000349|work=[[Farsnews]]|title=UAE, Kurds Standing against US, Turkey in Syria|date=22 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The U.S. bombing of Syria implicates many of Trump's business interests|date=16 April 2018|work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/4/16/17238058/syria-bombing-trump-business-interests}}</ref> Along with Egypt and Russia, it also supports the [[Syria's Tomorrow Movement]], which has a military wing, the Elite Forces, that is part of the SDF.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Al-Araby Al-Jadeed]]|date=12 March 2016|title=UAE, Egypt back launch of new Syrian opposition movement|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2016/3/12/uae-egypt-back-launch-of-new-syrian-opposition-movement}}</ref> |
||
In April 2018, Emirati Foreign Minister [[Anwar Gargash]] stated, "Our position on the Syrian crisis is very clear: a few years ago we had a choice — to support Bashar Assad or the opposition, which was joined by jihadists and even many terrorist elements, and we chose to be somewhere between. We confirm the need for a political solution in Syria. It is impossible to achieve stability in this country through a military solution."<ref>{{Cite news|date=10 April 2018|work=[[Sputnik News]]|title=Syrian Crisis Can Not Be Resolved Via Military Solutions - UAE Foreign Minister|url=https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201804101063407594-syria-crisis-not-military-solutions/}}</ref> |
In April 2018, Emirati Foreign Minister [[Anwar Gargash]] stated, "Our position on the Syrian crisis is very clear: a few years ago we had a choice — to support Bashar Assad or the opposition, which was joined by jihadists and even many terrorist elements, and we chose to be somewhere between. We confirm the need for a political solution in Syria. It is impossible to achieve stability in this country through a military solution."<ref>{{Cite news|date=10 April 2018|work=[[Sputnik News]]|title=Syrian Crisis Can Not Be Resolved Via Military Solutions - UAE Foreign Minister|url=https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201804101063407594-syria-crisis-not-military-solutions/}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 18:33, 7 September 2018
 | |
 Syria |
 United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|
Syria – United Arab Emirates relations are the relations between the United Arab Emirates and Syria. The UAE has an embassy in Damascus while Syria maintains an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai. Both countries are part of the Middle East region and share close cultural ties.
Diplomatic Relations
Syrian Civil War
In 2011, the Syrian Civil War began. On 25 September 2013, Foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that UAE would continue to support the Syrians and their legitimate aspirations for restoring security and stability to the country.[1] However, the UAE is not actively supporting the government of Bashar Al-Assad. On 13 January 2014, Vice President, Prime Minister and Emir of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that there could be no long-term solution to ending the war with Assad in power, and predicted that the Syrian president would eventually lose power.[2]
The UAE stance on the Syrian conflict has been described as "less aggressive" than Saudi Arabia or Qatar - but, unlike Egypt, not "favourable to Assad".[3] However, it has exhibited openness to Assad remaining in power as part of a peace settlement.[4] It has been critical of Saudi, Qatari and Turkish support for Islamist rebel groups in Syria.[5]
The UAE took part in the 2014 American-led intervention in Syria against ISIS.[6] It later broke with Saudi Arabia by supporting the 2015 Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, maintaining it was against a "common enemy".[7] It also reportedly provided funding for the moderate Southern Front, through an Amman-based Military Operations Center, although this Center has been inactive since 2017.[8][9]
Alongside the United States, it has been involved in supporting and training the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from 2017 onwards.[3][10][11] Along with Egypt and Russia, it also supports the Syria's Tomorrow Movement, which has a military wing, the Elite Forces, that is part of the SDF.[12]
In April 2018, Emirati Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash stated, "Our position on the Syrian crisis is very clear: a few years ago we had a choice — to support Bashar Assad or the opposition, which was joined by jihadists and even many terrorist elements, and we chose to be somewhere between. We confirm the need for a political solution in Syria. It is impossible to achieve stability in this country through a military solution."[13]
References
- ^ "UAE reaffirms support for Syria". Gulf News. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
- ^ http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/no-peace-as-long-as-al-assad-stays-mohammad-says-1.1277068
- ^ a b "The UAE has it in for the Muslim Brotherhood". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. 22 February 2017.
- ^ "How Russia Is Courting the Gulf". Kataeb. 3 August 2016.
- ^ ""Un-Brotherly" Saudi-Emirati Ties". Middle East Forum. 1 March 2018.
- ^ Sciutto, Jim; Castillo, Mariano; Yan, Holly (22 September 2014). "US airstrikes hit ISIS inside Syria for first time". CNN. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "UAE Says Ready To Commit Troops To Fight Syria Jihadists". Defense News. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "The Southern Front". Stanford University. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- ^ "Jordan, Israel hedge their bets in southwest Syria". Al-Monitor. 22 March 2018.
- ^ "UAE, Kurds Standing against US, Turkey in Syria". Farsnews. 22 February 2017.
- ^ "The U.S. bombing of Syria implicates many of Trump's business interests". Vox. 16 April 2018.
- ^ "UAE, Egypt back launch of new Syrian opposition movement". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. 12 March 2016.
- ^ "Syrian Crisis Can Not Be Resolved Via Military Solutions - UAE Foreign Minister". Sputnik News. 10 April 2018.
| |||||||||||||||||
