'We Will Never Be Blackmailed By Terrorists': UAE Minister Hits Back At Criticism Over US Ties

[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid  US-Israel-Iran war  for the latest regional developments.]

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a sharp message, declaring that the UAE “will never be blackmailed by terrorists.”

The powerful statement, posted on social media platform X, came in response to a former French diplomat who had questioned the UAE's strategic security decision amid ongoing regional hostilities.

Gérard Araud, a former French ambassador, quote-tweeted a news report detailing remarks made by Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President. 

Dr. Gargash had emphasised that the attacks have fundamentally altered the region's security calculus.

“The brutal Iranian aggression against the Arab Gulf states carries profound geopolitical repercussions, and cements the Iranian threat as a central pillar in Gulf strategic thinking,” Dr. Gargash wrote on X.

He further noted that the hostilities reinforce the “specificity of Gulf security and its independence from traditional concepts of Arab security.”

“Missiles, drones, and aggressive rhetoric are Iranian. And the result is a direction towards strengthening our national capabilities and joint Gulf security, and documenting our security partnerships with Washington,” Dr. Gargash stated, concluding that “this is the cost of Iranian miscalculations.”

In a subsequent post, Dr. Gargash underscored the UAE's resilience and its commitment to long-term stability. “As we face the brutal Iranian aggression and discover our firm strength based on steadfastness and resilience, our thinking does not stop at a ceasefire, but rather heads towards solutions that guarantee sustainable security in the Arabian Gulf, curbing the nuclear threat, missiles, drones, and the bullying of the straits,” he wrote. “It is unreasonable for aggression to turn into a permanent state of threat.”

Responding to Al Arabiya's coverage of Dr. Gargash's remarks about strengthening security partnerships with Washington, Araud wrote: “Strange. It means deepening your dependence on a country that has led yours into a disastrous conflict without caring about your interests.”

In reply, Sheikh Abdullah made it clear that the UAE's security decisions are driven by its own sovereign interests and a steadfast refusal to yield to terror tactics.

A robust defence

The strong words from the UAE's leadership align with the country's robust military response to the ongoing crisis. On March 22, UAE air defences successfully engaged four ballistic missiles and 25 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran.

Since the start of the attacks, the UAE's sophisticated, multi-layered air defence systems have intercepted 345 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,773 UAVs, neutralising the vast majority of incoming threats.

Six civilians of Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, and Palestinian nationalities have been killed, and two members of the UAE armed forces have been martyred. Additionally, 160 people have sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe.

In a recent incident in Abu Dhabi's Al Shawamekh area, intercepted missile debris caused a minor injury to an Indian national.

Unwavering readiness

The UAE Ministry of Defence has consistently maintained that the country remains “fully prepared” to deal with any threats. The nation boasts a well-equipped defence system and maintains a “robust strategic stockpile of munitions, ensuring sustained interception and response capabilities over extended periods”.

While the UAE has consistently advocated for de-escalation, diplomacy, and the resolution of conflicts through peaceful means, it has also firmly asserted its right to respond and protect its sovereignty.

Earlier this month, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited civilians injured in the attacks, delivering a powerful message of resilience. “The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh, we are no easy prey,” he affirmed, promising that the country “will emerge stronger than before, without doubt”.

The UAE's diplomatic efforts have also been extensive, with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed conducting over 100 calls with world leaders, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed holding numerous meetings and calls with counterparts worldwide to discuss the crisis and seek a resolution.

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