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UAE Warns Against Risk of Regional Spillover from Gaza War

A general view shows smoke as it rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
A general view shows smoke as it rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
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UAE Warns Against Risk of Regional Spillover from Gaza War

A general view shows smoke as it rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
A general view shows smoke as it rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The UAE warned on Friday that there was a risk of a regional spillover from the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, adding that it was working "relentlessly" to secure a humanitarian ceasefire, according to Reuters.

"As we continue working to stop this war we cannot ignore the wider context and the necessity to turn down the regional temperature that is approaching a boiling point," Noura Al Kaabi, a minister of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a policy conference in the UAE's capital, Abu Dhabi.

"The risk of regional spillover and further escalation is real, as well as the risk that extremist groups will take advantage of the situation to advance ideologies that will keep us locked in cycles of violence."

"Every effort must be made to protect civilians and immediately put an end to this conflict," Kaabi added.

Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip in its war with Hamas has angered Arab states who are concerned about sharply rising civilian casualties and Israel's blockade of the densely populated coastal enclave.

The UAE has said it planned to treat 1,000 Palestinian children from Gaza but did not clarify how they would leave the besieged enclave.

The latest war in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict began when Hamas militants broke through the border on Oct. 7 and went on a rampage.

Israel says Hamas killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 200 hostages. Israel's ensuing bombardment of the small densely populated Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million people has killed at least 9,601 people, including 3,760 children, according to Gaza health authorities.

"We are working relentlessly to reach an immediate and full humanitarian ceasefire so life-saving aid could be delivered to the Gaza Strip," Al Kaabi said.

Bahrain said on Thursday its ambassador to Israel had returned home and that the Israeli ambassador in Manama had left the kingdom "a while ago".

The government statement did not clarify whether that meant the Israeli ambassador had been expelled. The Israeli foreign ministry maintains that relations with Bahrain are stable.

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Trump’s Saudi Visit to Cement Deeper Strategic Ties

US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh in May 2017 (SPA)
US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh in May 2017 (SPA)
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Trump’s Saudi Visit to Cement Deeper Strategic Ties

US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh in May 2017 (SPA)
US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh in May 2017 (SPA)

Analysts expect US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia in mid-May – his first foreign trip since taking office – to lay the groundwork for deeper strategic and security ties between Washington and Riyadh, while boosting economic and investment cooperation.

The White House has officially announced that Trump will visit Saudi Arabia from May 13 to 16, as part of a regional tour that also includes Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Analysts told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump's agenda during his visit is expected to be dominated by the region’s most pressing and complex issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and broader tensions with Tehran, the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as the current situation in Yemen.

In a previous interview with CBS News, Trump described his relationship with the Middle East as “good,” frequently praising Washington’s trade ties with Saudi Arabia and the kingdom’s regional role in promoting peace and stability.

Trump has also repeatedly lauded Saudi Arabia for hosting US diplomatic efforts and facilitating talks aimed at securing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center, said several key regional files require resolution or a clear US stance ahead of the president’s Gulf tour.

“Chief among them are Iran’s nuclear file and broader relations with Tehran, the current situation in Yemen, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” he said.

Sager told Asharq Al-Awsat that alongside strategic and security matters, economic issues will also feature prominently during Trump’s visit.

These include Gulf investments in the US economy, the stability of the US dollar, and global oil prices, which he described as “core economic concerns.”

He noted, however, that US tariffs are unlikely to be a priority topic during the trip.

“Unlike with other countries, the trade balance with Gulf states favors the United States, so tariffs are not high on the regional agenda,” he said.

Saudi political analyst Dr. Khaled al-Habbas said the president’s visit is a clear signal of the strength of US-Saudi relations, which have spanned more than eight decades.

“These ties have been built on a solid foundation of mutual interests across political, economic, military, and social fields,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He added that this long-standing partnership has proven vital to the interests of both countries, particularly during regional crises and on the international stage—from the Cold War era to more recent Saudi-led mediation between the US and Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s decision to make Riyadh the first stop on his foreign tour reflects the importance Washington places on its relationship with Saudi Arabia, given the kingdom’s growing influence both regionally and globally, the Saudi analyst said.

“The choice underscores how much weight the US administration gives to its ties with the Kingdom, due to Riyadh’s pivotal role on the regional and international stages, as well as its significant economic and political clout,” al-Habbas explained.

He said the talks between the two leaderships are expected to cover a wide range of shared concerns, including economic cooperation and current political developments across the region and beyond.

“This visit is likely to pave the way for deeper military and political coordination, as well as collaboration in the field of peaceful nuclear energy,” he added.

Saudi Arabia holds a key diplomatic position in the eyes of the White House.

Trump also chose the kingdom as the first destination of his inaugural foreign tour in 2017— a gesture seen by many as a strong signal of the administration’s appreciation and recognition of Riyadh’s regional and international role.

Saudi Arabia has hosted two rounds of talks between the United States and Russia, as well as between the US and Ukraine, as part of ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and end the war that has raged for more than three years.

Washington has also expressed appreciation for Riyadh’s role within OPEC, particularly its efforts to stabilize global oil prices.