photo:https://www.jeuneafrique.com
A simmering feud between two
powerful Arab leaders has sent shockwaves across the Middle East, as Crown
Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), threatens to impose
sanctions on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The fiery dispute has escalated
into what many now dub the "Arabian Civil War," pitting MBS against
his longtime ally, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), the ruler of the
UAE.
The rift between the two
influential figures came to light when MBS summoned local journalists in Riyadh
for an off-the-record briefing in December 2022. Recently, the Wall Street
Journal (WSJ) revealed the explosive contents of that gathering. "Our
decades-long ally, the UAE, stabbed us in the back," MBS lamented, as
recounted by those present at the meeting. "They will see what I am
capable of," he added ominously.
The root cause of the discord
lies in the rivalry over the Gulf region. In December 2022, Crown Prince MBS
threatened to blockade the UAE for persistently challenging Saudi Arabia's
dominance in the Gulf. He conveyed a series of demands to Abu Dhabi, warning
that his kingdom would take decisive actions if the UAE continued to undermine
its influence in the region.
According to WSJ, MBS issued a
stern warning that the sanctions imposed on the UAE would be harsher than those
imposed on Qatar in the past. "This will be worse than what I did to
Qatar," he declared, sending a clear message of his resolve.
It is worth noting that Saudi
Arabia and Qatar experienced a bitter rift in 2017, with the Arab kingdom
placing an embargo on Qatar and imposing an economic blockade that lasted for
over three years. The two nations eventually reconciled in 2021, likely
motivated by their shared goal of forming a counterbalance against Iran.
The tension between Crown
Prince MBS and UAE President MBZ has been brewing for some time. Both leaders
vie for supremacy in the Gulf region, leading to heated clashes during an OPEC
meeting in October 2022. During the event, the UAE accused Saudi Arabia of
coercing other member countries into agreeing on oil production cuts. In
response, the UAE threatened to withdraw from OPEC, citing Arab domination as
the reason.
The escalating rivalry between
the two nations has raised concerns among U.S. officials. They fear that the
power struggle in the Gulf could hinder efforts to build a united front against
Iran, resolve the conflict in Yemen, and advance diplomatic relations between
Israel and Muslim-majority nations.
The Arabian Civil War's
potential implications on regional stability and global politics are
far-reaching. As the tension between MBS and MBZ intensifies, the world watches
with bated breath, uncertain of the outcome and hoping for a peaceful
resolution to this combustible confrontation.
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