UAE Foreign Minister says the Western
leaders know little about the Middle East
leaders know little about the Middle East
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), told Fox News’ Bret Baier that one of the problems the Western leaders have, when they’re interacting with Middle Eastern leaders, is that the Western leaders do not realize how little they know about the Middle East’s politics, economics, and society.
The foreign minister said, “I think we have to move away from a period where Brussels, Washington, London, and Paris think that they know the region better than the people of the region and I think that’s our biggest challenge.”
The issue about the West not understanding the Middle East, particularly on the topics of Libya and Iran and Syria, was a theme throughout the interview.
Al Nahyan told Baier that he believes “Libya could be a huge ticking bomb for the region,” and that the Western ally forces should be more engaged in stabilizing the country.
Al Nayhyan also stated that the UAE is not comfortable with Iran’s nuclear agreement and that a major concern is that Iran will use the nuclear agreement as a way to muscle others within the region.
On the issue of Syria, Al Nahyan told Baier that stabilizing Syria is the key to ridding the region of ISIS. “We cannot get rid of ISIS if the situation in Syria is not dealt with in the proper manner.”
The foreign minister went on to emphasize the importance of the UAE’s and the West relationship as “historical partners,” and he told Baier that he didn’t agree with James Mattis’, former CENTCOM commander, belief that the biggest problem facing the Mid-East is “America’s disengagement.”
Al Nahyan pointed out that the problems in the Mid-East are broad and are not centered on one particular issue.
Al Nahyan told Baier, “I don’t think it’s fair. We have challenges of extremism, radicalism, fascism, and we have social challenges. We have economical challenges, political challenges and I think these matters are not been discussed in a way where the region can rely enough to exist on their partners.”
The foreign minister went on to say that he believes the West’s hesitation to take a larger role in current Mid-East matters has resulted from domestic challenges and “tiredness” from being in the region.
“It just looks to me that the West, our historical partners, I think they’re preoccupied with their internal matters or they’re a bit sore with their efforts in the region. I don’t think they have given up. But I think they’re in a shield room or a glass room, which they-which they think that their interpretation of the region is that way,” said Nahyan.
The foreign minister said, “I think we have to move away from a period where Brussels, Washington, London, and Paris think that they know the region better than the people of the region and I think that’s our biggest challenge.”
The issue about the West not understanding the Middle East, particularly on the topics of Libya and Iran and Syria, was a theme throughout the interview.
Al Nahyan told Baier that he believes “Libya could be a huge ticking bomb for the region,” and that the Western ally forces should be more engaged in stabilizing the country.
Al Nayhyan also stated that the UAE is not comfortable with Iran’s nuclear agreement and that a major concern is that Iran will use the nuclear agreement as a way to muscle others within the region.
On the issue of Syria, Al Nahyan told Baier that stabilizing Syria is the key to ridding the region of ISIS. “We cannot get rid of ISIS if the situation in Syria is not dealt with in the proper manner.”
The foreign minister went on to emphasize the importance of the UAE’s and the West relationship as “historical partners,” and he told Baier that he didn’t agree with James Mattis’, former CENTCOM commander, belief that the biggest problem facing the Mid-East is “America’s disengagement.”
Al Nahyan pointed out that the problems in the Mid-East are broad and are not centered on one particular issue.
Al Nahyan told Baier, “I don’t think it’s fair. We have challenges of extremism, radicalism, fascism, and we have social challenges. We have economical challenges, political challenges and I think these matters are not been discussed in a way where the region can rely enough to exist on their partners.”
The foreign minister went on to say that he believes the West’s hesitation to take a larger role in current Mid-East matters has resulted from domestic challenges and “tiredness” from being in the region.
“It just looks to me that the West, our historical partners, I think they’re preoccupied with their internal matters or they’re a bit sore with their efforts in the region. I don’t think they have given up. But I think they’re in a shield room or a glass room, which they-which they think that their interpretation of the region is that way,” said Nahyan.
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