The Trump administration designated the United Arab Emirates as a “major defense partner” during the president’s stop last week in the wealthy Gulf state.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his UAE counterpart, Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, signed a joint letter of intent that could mean much closer military cooperation between Washington and Abu Dhabi.
The agreement represents a “shared commitment to develop a structured road map” that will guide a long-term defense alignment between the two nations, according to a statement released by the Pentagon.
“The two sides will explore a phased framework for advancing bilateral force readiness, interoperability, and innovation-driven collaboration,” Defense Department officials said.
The agreement between the U.S. and the UAE is similar to one signed in 2016 with India, which was elevated to Strategic Trade Authorization tier 1 status. That allowed New Delhi to receive license-free access to a wide range of military and dual-use technologies regulated by the Department of Commerce.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its new strategic partnership with Washington was built on “five decades of mutual cooperation and shared interests.”
“Both sides commended the depth of the U.A.E.-U.S. security and defense partnership and reiterated their intention to further strengthen and expand bilateral defense cooperation,” they said in a statement. “The meeting also reaffirmed the U.A.E.’s unequivocal stance against terrorism and extremism in all forms and underscored the shared commitment to working with international partners to promote international peace and security.”
During his visit to the UAE, President Trump announced more than $200 billion in commercial deals between Washington and Abu Dhabi while Mr. Hegseth was hammering out the details of the military partnership. Mr. Trump has regularly observed that expanding access to American companies strengthens strategic ties and advances shared interests in the Middle East.
The U.S. and the UAE have a long history of cooperation in defense and counterterrorism. Abu Dhabi played a key role in the Abraham Accords, a series of bilateral agreements between several Arab countries and Israel that originated in his first administration.
The U.S. also considers the Middle Eastern nation an ally in the effort to curb Iranian aggression in the region.
The UAE has never hidden its interest in greater military ties with the U.S. It views a strong partnership with Washington as crucial in deterring threats from malign neighbors, especially Iran.
The agreement between the U.S. and the UAE will also create an initiative between the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit and the UAE’s Tawazun Council. The collaboration will deepen ties in defense innovation, facilitate joint research and development, and expand industrial and investment partnerships, Defense Department officials said.
With the new defense partnership, the UAE will join the U.S. National Guard State Partnership Program. It pairs National Guard units with partner nations worldwide to build what U.S. officials called “strong, enduring relationships” that enhance mutual cooperation and global security.
The UAE will partner with the Texas National Guard. They will work together in a variety of missions, including integrated air and missile defense, operational planning, and cybersecurity, officials said.
“It builds on the longstanding record of both countries working side by side to counter threats, stabilize conflict zones, and promote security and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond,” the Defense Department said.
The UAE’s government awarded President Trump their highest civilian honor, the Order of Zayed, in recognition of his “efforts to enhance cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and the United States.”
