Middle East Policy has been one of the world’s most cited publications on the region since its inception in 1982, and our Breaking Analysis series makes high-quality, diverse analysis available to a broader audience.
Policy Briefs Program
June 6, 2023
On Wednesday, May 31st, the UAE announced that it had withdrawn its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces. In a press release on the matter, the UAE Foreign Affairs Ministry wrote, “As a result of our ongoing evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners, two months ago, the UAE withdrew its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces.”
The Combined Maritime Forces was, “established in 2001, initially as a partnership between 12 nations. It is active in crucial but troubled Gulf waters where tankers have been seized and attacked in recent months.” The coalition aimed to deter weapons and drug smuggling, piracy, and attacks on commercial shipping.
Although the UAE publicized its departure from the CMF, “US Navy Fifth Fleet spokesperson Cdr. Tim Hawkins told Al-Monitor that as of Wednesday, the UAE had not formally withdrawn from the maritime security collective.” Hawkins stated that “The UAE is currently a CMF partner, that hasn’t changed. Regarding their level of participation as a partner, we leave it to our individual partners to speak to that.”
Irani also said that “while Iran and Oman have held several joint naval drills in the past, other countries are now eager for collective naval cooperation, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Pakistan and India.”
Middle East Policy has been one of the world’s most cited publications on the region since its inception in 1982, and our Breaking Analysis series makes high-quality, diverse analysis available to a broader audience.
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Policy Briefs Program
June 6, 2023
On Wednesday, May 31st, the UAE announced that it had withdrawn its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces. In a press release on the matter, the UAE Foreign Affairs Ministry wrote, “As a result of our ongoing evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners, two months ago, the UAE withdrew its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces.”
The Combined Maritime Forces was, “established in 2001, initially as a partnership between 12 nations. It is active in crucial but troubled Gulf waters where tankers have been seized and attacked in recent months.” The coalition aimed to deter weapons and drug smuggling, piracy, and attacks on commercial shipping.
Although the UAE publicized its departure from the CMF, “US Navy Fifth Fleet spokesperson Cdr. Tim Hawkins told Al-Monitor that as of Wednesday, the UAE had not formally withdrawn from the maritime security collective.” Hawkins stated that “The UAE is currently a CMF partner, that hasn’t changed. Regarding their level of participation as a partner, we leave it to our individual partners to speak to that.”
The Friday following the UAE’s announcement of their withdrawal from the coalition, the commander of Iran’s navy, Shahram Irani, announced “that the country would form a joint naval alliance with several Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq.”
Highlighting the alliance’s additional inclusion of India and Pakistan, Iran’s state news agency, Tasnim, conveyed Irani’s perspective that “nearly all littoral countries located in the northern areas of the Indian Ocean have come to the conclusion that they need to stand by Iran and work in collective cooperation to ensure security… The region will soon be free from any ‘illegitimate force’ and the regional people will ensure security with their own soldiers.”
Irani also said that “while Iran and Oman have held several joint naval drills in the past, other countries are now eager for collective naval cooperation, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Pakistan and India.”
Al Mayadden noted U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces Spokesperson Commander Tim Hawkins’ response to the forming partnership: “It defies reason that Iran, the number one cause of regional instability, claims it wants to form a naval security alliance to protect the very waters it threatens.” He maintains that “Iran has ‘attacked or seized 15 internationally flagged merchant’s vessels’ over the past two years.’”
The American response to Iranian attacks, or lack thereof, appears to be part of the reason why the UAE has chosen to leave the CMF. According to Al-Jazeera, “Abu Dhabi’s press release on Wednesday appeared to reference a Wall Street Journal article on Tuesday which reported Emirati officials were displeased that the US had not prevented Iran’s recent seizure of two civilian tanker ships, one of which was seized while transiting between two Emirati ports.”
The Emiratis claimed that this is a mischaracterization of the conversation, but did not provide further explanation for ending participation in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). Haaretz analyzed the UAE’s expressed commitment “to dialogue and diplomatic engagement to advance regional security and stability – as well as to ensuring navigation safety in its seas in accordance with international law.”
As quoted by Al Jazeera, Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at the Defence Studies Department of King’s College London said, “UAE-US relations were going through ‘a bit of a rough patch’ with Abu Dhabi seeing the US as ‘consistently’ failing to live up to its role as a security guarantor in the region.” This perception, “has pushed regional players to diversify their security partnerships and fill voids themselves where they can.”