Ties between UAE, U.S. undergoing stress test, UAE envoy says – By Alexander Cornwell (Reuters) / March 3, 2022
ABU DHABI, March 3 (Reuters) – The relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States is going through “a stress test,” Emirati envoy to Washington Yousef Al Otaiba, said on Thursday, but added that he was confident the close partners would “get out of it”.
The UAE has tried to remain neutral between Western allies and Russia as Washington pushes for a global stand against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Abu Dhabi has also been pushing Washington to reinstate a terrorism designation on Yemen’s Houthi group after it launched attacks on the Gulf Arab state
“It is like any relationship. It has strong days where the relationship is very healthy and days where the relationship is under question. Today, we’re going through a stress test but I am confident that we will get out of it and get to a better place,” Otaiba said in an onstage interview at a defence event.
