Tag: UAE

It looks like this deal will allow South Korea via UAE to sell arms to Islamic militant groups in Africa that UAE is backing:

South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to work together to export defense equipment and nuclear reactors to third countries, marking a significant expansion beyond their fast-growing bilateral trade in these sectors. President Lee Jae Myung’s aides announced the agreement Tuesday during a briefing in Abu Dhabi, following a summit between the leaders of the two nations.

Kang Hoon-sik, presidential chief of staff, told reporters that the two countries will elevate their defense cooperation by jointly developing defense equipment, establishing a manufacturing base in the UAE and pursuing defense sales not only to the UAE’s Middle Eastern neighbors but also to countries in Africa, Europe and North America.

The plan will “increase the likelihood” of South Korean defense exporters securing deals in these regions, Kang said, noting that the potential value of such contracts could reach a combined $15 billion.

Korea Herald

You can read more at the link.

It is a bit surprising that China is not siding with Iran over its territorial dispute with the UAE. Maybe China is trying soften their image by trying to look like some kind of peacemaker especially when they know Iran will not be giving back the islands and there is nothing the UAE can do to get them back:

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) speedboats during an exercise in Abu Musa Island on Aug. 2, 2023. (West Asia News Agency via Reuters)

China held its stance on three disputed islands in the Gulf on Monday despite Tehran’s anger at Beijing for describing the Iran-controlled islands as a matter to be resolved with the United Arab Emirates. In a statement last week, China expressed support for the efforts of the UAE to reach a “peaceful solution” to the issue of the islands — the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.

The islands, claimed by the UAE and Iran, have been held by Tehran since 1971 after the withdrawal of British forces from the Gulf. In a rare show of anger toward its biggest trading partner, the Iranian foreign ministry on Sunday summoned the Chinese ambassador to Iran to protest China’s “repeated support” for the UAE’s “baseless claims.” “Considering the strategic cooperation between Tehran and Beijing, it is expected that the Chinese government will revise its stance on this matter,” the Iranian foreign ministry said.

Stars and Stripes

You can read more at the link.

Some happy chaebol chiefs today in South Korea:

Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a total of 24 agreements worth $6.1 billion in traditional industries, such as energy and defense, as well as emerging businesses, including hydrogen, mobility, bio and digital transformation, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Monday.

The ministry said about 320 officials from business lobby groups, Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group and other Korean companies, who accompanied President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to the Middle Eastern country, held the Korea-UAE Business Forum at the Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi hotel.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

The Iranians though their Houthi rebel proxies in Yemen may have just sent a message to South Korea with this drone attack in the UAE:

The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen attacked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in an apparent drone strike Monday that killed three people while President Moon Jae-in was in the country. The Blue House confirmed the safety of the Korean leader.    
   
UAE authorities said that three transport tankers exploded at an oil facility, and another fire broke out at an extension of Abu Dhabi International Airport. Two Indians and one Pakistani were killed at the oil facility, while at least eight people were injured, including two airport employees, according to Abu Dhabi police.    
   
Moon had been visiting the UAE since Saturday, as a part of an eight-day tour of the Middle East, and had been attending an event in Dubai, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from the Abu Dhabi airport, at the time of the attack.    
   
Moon expressed to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the de facto ruler of the UAE, “deep condolences and sympathy” for the victims of the suspected drone attack in a 25-minute phone call Monday evening. 

“We express our serious concern over acts that threaten peace and stability in the Middle East region, including the UAE, and we strongly condemn attacks on civilians and the taking of lives as unacceptable acts of terrorism,” he added.    
   
The two leaders’ summit meeting in Abu Dhabi was unexpectedly canceled shortly before Moon’s arrival in the country, upon the request of the UAE side. 

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link, but the UAE and South Korea have a close defense relationship which includes a $3.5 billion deal to sell surface to air missiles to the UAE that was signed on Sunday. Those missiles are clearly being bought to protect the UAE from Iranian aggression and this attack is arguably sending a message to the Moon administration that the mullahs in Tehran are unhappy about this.

The UAE is looking to upgrade their missile defenses with the newest system the ROK is developing:

 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has said it plans to purchase South Korean-made mid-range surface-to-air missiles in a deal likely to reach US$3.5 billion. 

The UAE’s Ministry of Defense tweeted Tuesday that it plans to acquire the missile, known as M-SAM. It did not elaborate further.

An official at South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) called the UAE’s announcement “positive” but noted negotiations have yet to be finalized.

“We still need to see how negotiations on the details will proceed,” a DAPA official said on condition of anonymity.

The M-SAM system, called “Cheongung II,” is a core element of South Korea’s multi-layered anti-missile program. Cheongung, means heaven’s bow in Korean.

Employing the “hit-to-kill” technology, the missile is designed to intercept hostile missiles coming in at altitudes below 40 kilometers.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.