Russia and the United Arab Emirates multiply trade, and we have tested our borders

Dubai, United Arab Emirates-The President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nayhane, traveled to Russia on Thursday on his second visit to the country in less than a year, to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a sign of the relations between the two countries.

The trip, according to the service of the UAE government media WAM, focuses on “the strategic partnership of the two countries” and “ways to enhance cooperation, especially in the economy, trade, investment, energy and other areas that serve joint development, in addition to regional and international issues of common concern.”

The United Arab Emirates is an ally close to the United States, military partner and major laboratories. It is also the most important economic partner in Russia in the Middle East – and trade has vanished in recent years, especially since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russia-Awai trade jumped by 68 % on an annual basis In 2022 to 9 billion dollars, the Russian Ministry of Trade said in February.

“The rotation of trade between Russia and the United Arab Emirates reached $ 11.5 billion,” said the leader of the United Arab Emirates.

Bin Zayed told his Russian counterpart: “We would like this number to double both on the bilateral level and with the countries of Eurasia during the next five years, adding that the relations between the two countries” are developing at an accelerated pace. “

Russia and the United Arab Emirates have signed a strategic partnership in 2018, and many visits have been exchanged between its leaders since then.

Abu Dhabi was not officially taken in the war of Russia-Ukraine, instead calling for peace and ending the fighting. Instead, it has provided a safe haven for the Oligarshrine and Russian expatriates who flee the penalties and mandatory recruitment. About 4000 Russian companies operate in the United Arab Emirates, According to reportsAnd foreign direct investment between the two increased steadily.

Anna Porschekaya, an older colleague at the Washington Institute, focused on Russia’s policy towards the Middle East, said that the visit of the leader of the United Arab Emirates to Moscow:

“As before, the United Arab Emirates wants to continue to maintain a diverse foreign policy in general between Russia, the United States and China, rather than one choice only.”

The visit of the leader of the United Arab Emirates also comes at a time when the White House announced a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Putin to discuss the ceasefire efforts on the Ukraine war – and in the aftermath Trump announces the punitive definitions of India To import Russian oil, which the American leader says he “nourishes the war machine.”

“For Russia, the ongoing relationship with the United Arab Emirates is a victory, and it is” clearly a sign that it is almost not isolated just as the West would like to be diplomatic and economist, “said Ryan Paul, a major analyst in the Middle East and North Africa in Ran.

“The United Arab Emirates is also a major part of Russia’s efforts to overcome Western sanctions. For (the leader of the United Arab Emirates) on the political front, which is evidence that he is independent of Washington, despite relying on American security forces,” Bouleh said, referring to Mohammed bin Zayed by the first letters.

Part of this because of the role of Abu Dhabi as a mediator between Russia and Western powers. It has facilitated communication between opponents and the medium -sized prisoners ’exchange deals between Ukraine and Russia. Since the outbreak of the war in February 2022, UAE says Emirati mediation efforts 4,181 captives witnessed returning home.

Also, the United Arab Emirates is affected by its huge commercial relations with the United States to the defense: Abu Dhabi is a quick -growing center, and the investor in, The largest artificial intelligence companies in America and technology companies. Trump is very fetus Visit the Gulf region in May Watch a number of major deals signed with the Emirates across the sectors, while Abu Dhabi is in March Committed to a 10 -year investment framework of $ 1.4 trillion In the United States

Hussein Ipsy, a researcher residing at the Arab States Institute in Washington, said that the Emirates friendship with Russia is “a source of tension with the United States, but not major at this stage, especially under the Trump administration.”

“However, since secondary sanctions are vulnerable to starting after the deadline for Trump’s stop regarding the Ukraine war … the United Arab Emirates and Russia will want to coordinate any possible response to such secondary sanctions.”

Whether Trump decides to pressure Abu Dhabi is something that the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and the wider Gulf region are likely to watch them closely. Michael Robin, a former Pentagon researcher at the American Institute of American Institutions, says the small oil -rich sheikhs will maintain its independence when it comes to his decisions in foreign policy.

Robin told CNBC: “The United Arab Emirates is no longer interested in being part of the major alliances or pressure campaigns, and it will build its policy at the expense of tight and equipped for its own interests and allows others to waste their time, their energy on sanctions, coercion and great competition of force.”

“MBZ will do what is suitable for the United Arab Emirates, and not put all its eggs in the American, Chinese or Russian baskets.”