Perhaps these are actions that other nations see as supporting their interests when the U.S. is unreliable as we have been so often over the last, oh, fifty plus years. Perhaps nations with shared interests are aligning, and those outdated, tired alliances that are "no action talk only" are fading away. Perhaps a revitalization of the Abraham Accords and beginning what will be a long painful process of creating the United States as an international player that is actually "no better friend, no worse enemy" instead of an international fraud has begun. Perhaps...We'll see...
"... the U.S. is unreliable..." Question? Is the U.S. being unreliable or are they establishing a FP reset that reflects a move away from the seemingly endless quest for foreign entanglements and a "not so subtle" gesture to European elites?
Scott Horton's book "Provoked" (1000+ pages & densely end-noted to put it mildly) doesn't exactly paint a pretty picture of the U.S.'s handiwork going back to Bush '41 to present. Let's just say that a reset is long overdue.
Freedom of navigation is a core US interest, or is it? The US has a miniscule merchant fleet, and not much comes through the Red Sea that's headed to US ports. Maybe this is more an European / Chinese problem...
I have an extremely jaundiced view of NATO because of the historical unwillingness to assume responsibilities that they should have assumed decades ago. NATO should be policing her own near seas with a continuous presence of her navies while the USN role is relegated to a participant (minor one at that) from the arctic to the Med. We can take care of our own waters up through Greenland and Iceland and the far north on this side of the Atlantic. As for the rest of the world? I certainly expect the USN to be fully engaged in South & Central America and there are ways of accomplishing that uses the best of what the USCG offers with the USN. I would emphasize security of SLOCs throughout the IO Indo-PAC and into the south Pacific regions. I have no interest in ceding to the PRC the role of helping to guarantee the security of SLOCs but there are severe limitations as to where we can be with the navy we currently possess. There is a division of labor here that's possible and flipping NATO better step up to do their damn job in their own backyard and near seas.
I tend to interpret this as part of the race between Gulf Arab states and Iran over oil exports. Since the Iran-Iraq War "Tanker War" each side has tried to move its export capacity away from the other.
Iran's leverage is interrupting oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia responded with increased capacity to export through the Red Sea. And Iran responded with efforts to gain interdiction positions along the Red Sea route--currently via the Houthi proxies. And now the UAE builds an outpost to protect the southern outlet of the Red Sea.
That could also be part of a UAE effort to block Erdogan's hope to team up with Qatar to extend Turkey's influence to its former Ottoman stomping grounds in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
Lines on the map change, politics change, but the underlying geography and need for oil doesn't change. That's why the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf were operational theaters for both the Kriegsmarine Gruppe Monsun and Imperial Japanese Navy.
Not to mention the fact that these islands are well within the range of Djibouti, Iran, and Pakistan which are all nice places for PLA airborne troops to depart from should China become interested in the area and they all have ready made strips.
Nations have national interests. Politicians have personal interests. The two don't always align. That's why governments change, sometimes peacefully, sometimes not. Sometimes nations fall apart, due to internal alignment issues as previously noted...see Syria, example 1 each...
Canada could be our friend if they lowered tariffs and reduced the trade deficit, secured their border and spent more on defense. Also, they shouldn’t lock up people who protest against the government’s policies.
Pete: Most Canadians, outside of downtown Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, are our friends. The hullabaloo over tariffs and the stock market is just media-manufactured outrage. Canada's leftist politicians need to whip-up the sheeple for the next elections, and America's leftist politicians and the media are happy to lend a hand to their fellow travelers up north.
Here’s another way Canada could be our friend, by sending 158 Canadian Armed Forces members to be killed standing shoulder to shoulder with our troops after we were attacked on 9/11. Or she could let over 2,000 of her brave troopers to be maimed and wounded while fighting against the enemy who attacked, not Canada, but the US.
Or, she could risk atomic annihilation by letting the country to the south use her artic to construct a distant early warning against attach by our most vicious enemies.
Brettbaker: The Canadian royalists, francophiles, socialists and outright commies will not forgive America for the being on the winning side of the French and Indian War and the War against the British Crown and Parliament.
The Canadians I know are quick to point out that if you set fire to the other team's Capital you are deemed to have won the war. I believe that that was the first recorded use of the word "Scoreboard."
One can hope. But aside from throwing a huge amount of money at problems, I don't we see the UAE or Saudi Arabia as capable of doing any heavy lifting on their own. They'll need to entangle some expertise from abroad. But then, that's probably the point of the article.
In 1977, we were part of the Middle East Force. That consisted of the La Salle (aka the White Elephant) and two DD's or FF's. The port of Dubai was under construction, and there were no updated charts...which made for a fun Navigation Detail!!
The second day we were there a worker tried to get his bike, which was just inside the fence.
An Arab guard saw him, they exchanged some words, which set the guard off.
The guard and his compatriot beat and stomped the poor guy into oblivion.
If that poor gent stayed alive, I'd bet he was permanently hurt.
Was in a Merchant Seaman's bar in Karachi in 1975 with a few Chiefs. There was a loud whistle. It was a signal. Our bartender and all the staff grabbed canes and began to beat a civilian to a bloody mess. Bones were broken, huge welts were raised...the man was left on the floor in spasms of pain and was moaning piteously until the police dragged him away about 5 minutes later. The bartender explained: “Pickpocket”.
Perhaps these are actions that other nations see as supporting their interests when the U.S. is unreliable as we have been so often over the last, oh, fifty plus years. Perhaps nations with shared interests are aligning, and those outdated, tired alliances that are "no action talk only" are fading away. Perhaps a revitalization of the Abraham Accords and beginning what will be a long painful process of creating the United States as an international player that is actually "no better friend, no worse enemy" instead of an international fraud has begun. Perhaps...We'll see...
Relying on others to defend your own interests is always risky, eh? Whether the UAE or America.
"... the U.S. is unreliable..." Question? Is the U.S. being unreliable or are they establishing a FP reset that reflects a move away from the seemingly endless quest for foreign entanglements and a "not so subtle" gesture to European elites?
Scott Horton's book "Provoked" (1000+ pages & densely end-noted to put it mildly) doesn't exactly paint a pretty picture of the U.S.'s handiwork going back to Bush '41 to present. Let's just say that a reset is long overdue.
Freedom of navigation is a core US interest, or is it? The US has a miniscule merchant fleet, and not much comes through the Red Sea that's headed to US ports. Maybe this is more an European / Chinese problem...
I have an extremely jaundiced view of NATO because of the historical unwillingness to assume responsibilities that they should have assumed decades ago. NATO should be policing her own near seas with a continuous presence of her navies while the USN role is relegated to a participant (minor one at that) from the arctic to the Med. We can take care of our own waters up through Greenland and Iceland and the far north on this side of the Atlantic. As for the rest of the world? I certainly expect the USN to be fully engaged in South & Central America and there are ways of accomplishing that uses the best of what the USCG offers with the USN. I would emphasize security of SLOCs throughout the IO Indo-PAC and into the south Pacific regions. I have no interest in ceding to the PRC the role of helping to guarantee the security of SLOCs but there are severe limitations as to where we can be with the navy we currently possess. There is a division of labor here that's possible and flipping NATO better step up to do their damn job in their own backyard and near seas.
Nice attention to an obscure issue!
I tend to interpret this as part of the race between Gulf Arab states and Iran over oil exports. Since the Iran-Iraq War "Tanker War" each side has tried to move its export capacity away from the other.
Iran's leverage is interrupting oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia responded with increased capacity to export through the Red Sea. And Iran responded with efforts to gain interdiction positions along the Red Sea route--currently via the Houthi proxies. And now the UAE builds an outpost to protect the southern outlet of the Red Sea.
That could also be part of a UAE effort to block Erdogan's hope to team up with Qatar to extend Turkey's influence to its former Ottoman stomping grounds in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
Lines on the map change, politics change, but the underlying geography and need for oil doesn't change. That's why the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf were operational theaters for both the Kriegsmarine Gruppe Monsun and Imperial Japanese Navy.
Not to mention the fact that these islands are well within the range of Djibouti, Iran, and Pakistan which are all nice places for PLA airborne troops to depart from should China become interested in the area and they all have ready made strips.
That's a worrisome thought!
If the AP is reporting this, it means that we're supposed to follow the squirrel.
"Let’s keep UAE on our friends list." Like Canada?
Nations have national interests. Politicians have personal interests. The two don't always align. That's why governments change, sometimes peacefully, sometimes not. Sometimes nations fall apart, due to internal alignment issues as previously noted...see Syria, example 1 each...
Canada could be our friend if they lowered tariffs and reduced the trade deficit, secured their border and spent more on defense. Also, they shouldn’t lock up people who protest against the government’s policies.
Pete: Most Canadians, outside of downtown Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, are our friends. The hullabaloo over tariffs and the stock market is just media-manufactured outrage. Canada's leftist politicians need to whip-up the sheeple for the next elections, and America's leftist politicians and the media are happy to lend a hand to their fellow travelers up north.
The CF members I served with were some the finest in the world.
Here’s another way Canada could be our friend, by sending 158 Canadian Armed Forces members to be killed standing shoulder to shoulder with our troops after we were attacked on 9/11. Or she could let over 2,000 of her brave troopers to be maimed and wounded while fighting against the enemy who attacked, not Canada, but the US.
Or, she could risk atomic annihilation by letting the country to the south use her artic to construct a distant early warning against attach by our most vicious enemies.
You know damn well the Canuck, like the Limey, is our oldest enemy; always looking for an excuse to renew hostilities.
Many Canadians would welcome being liberated from Justin Castreau.
They can’t say anything lest they be thrown in jail.
Brettbaker: The Canadian royalists, francophiles, socialists and outright commies will not forgive America for the being on the winning side of the French and Indian War and the War against the British Crown and Parliament.
The Canadians I know are quick to point out that if you set fire to the other team's Capital you are deemed to have won the war. I believe that that was the first recorded use of the word "Scoreboard."
I suspected you were a J6er all along.
"Pariah" thanks for that. Have finished re-reading of "Siren's Song" just yesterday!
If you've read The Aden Effect, no need to read Pariah. Pariah is the revised 2nd edition and retitled Aden Effect.
The Philippines Pact follows Syren's Song. The 4th novel should be released next year
Ha, it's not that often to see authors replying. Nice! (Might add to my long backlog)
Oh. shucks. I was looking forward to that Fourth! I have first three at hand already.
Thankyou for the heads up, and THANKS for good stories!
One can hope. But aside from throwing a huge amount of money at problems, I don't we see the UAE or Saudi Arabia as capable of doing any heavy lifting on their own. They'll need to entangle some expertise from abroad. But then, that's probably the point of the article.
Dale: No one in the UAE or Saudi Arabia lifts anything. They are the world's most indolent people.
Been there. Saw it. Their greatest worry should be their maltreated guest workers.
In 1977, we were part of the Middle East Force. That consisted of the La Salle (aka the White Elephant) and two DD's or FF's. The port of Dubai was under construction, and there were no updated charts...which made for a fun Navigation Detail!!
The second day we were there a worker tried to get his bike, which was just inside the fence.
An Arab guard saw him, they exchanged some words, which set the guard off.
The guard and his compatriot beat and stomped the poor guy into oblivion.
If that poor gent stayed alive, I'd bet he was permanently hurt.
Was in a Merchant Seaman's bar in Karachi in 1975 with a few Chiefs. There was a loud whistle. It was a signal. Our bartender and all the staff grabbed canes and began to beat a civilian to a bloody mess. Bones were broken, huge welts were raised...the man was left on the floor in spasms of pain and was moaning piteously until the police dragged him away about 5 minutes later. The bartender explained: “Pickpocket”.
In Dubai, the poor worker (looked Sri Lankan maybe) was just trying to retrieve his bike.
The guys standing quarterdeck watch were appalled, and angry they couldn't do anything to help the poor gent.
'Secret' Wars Are Stupid.
Why bother to keep up the charade of 'clandestine' construction?
Can't happen in this day and age.
And don't even bother with the , "...but the host country doesn't want anybody to know" silliness either.
They haven't been doing it lately, but I've gotten a hoot about what the folks at the Pine Castle range spell out with shipping containers...
https://clui-files.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/presentation_large/public/ludb/fl/18311/fred_pinecastle.jpg?itok=Dvkoti3Q