US bases in UAE to be shut? Commentator sparks major debate amid Iran war, says UAE no longer needs America to…
A fresh debate has surfaced in the United Arab Emirates over the continued presence of American military bases following the recent spike in tensions across West Asia involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The discussion has intensified after reports of Iranian strikes on locations linked to US military operations in the UAE.
The issue is now being openly discussed by policy commentators and analysts, with some questioning whether hosting foreign bases still serves the country’s long-term interests.
Calls to reconsider US military bases
Prominent UAE commentator Abdulkhaleq Abdulla has strongly argued that the time has come for a policy rethink. He believes that US military installations in the UAE may no longer be beneficial.
He said, ‘Now the time has come to consider closing US military bases, these bases are no longer strategic assets, but have become a burden.’
His remarks have added weight to an already growing conversation about the UAE’s evolving defence strategy.
Read More: Iran rejects second round of talks with US in Pakistan, blames Washington’s unrealistic expectations and…; will peace push collapse?
‘UAE capable of defending itself’
Abdulla also highlighted what he described as the UAE’s improved military capabilities. In his view, recent developments have shown that the country is no longer dependent on external protection to the same extent as before.
He said, ‘This is what I told Reuters today: The UAE no longer needs America to defend it, as it has proven during the Iranian aggression that it is capable of defending itself with distinction.’
While acknowledging that the UAE may still rely on the US for advanced weapons and technology, he stressed that maintaining foreign military bases is a separate issue.
Read More: US seizes Iranian ship near Strait of Hormuz, Tehran vows to retaliate: ‘Will soon respond and…’
Focus shifts to modern defence systems
According to Abdulla, the country should prioritise strengthening its own defence infrastructure by investing in cutting-edge military equipment rather than hosting overseas forces. He suggested that building self-reliance through technology would better address national security concerns in the long run.
This viewpoint reflects a broader shift in thinking among some experts, who believe that regional powers are increasingly looking to reduce dependence on external military support.
Iran claims strikes on US-linked sites
The debate comes in the backdrop of claims by Iran that it carried out attacks on US-associated military locations in the UAE during the recent escalation. Among the sites mentioned was a US command facility near Al Minhad.
Tehran also alleged that the strikes resulted in significant casualties among American personnel. However, these claims have not been independently verified by the United States.
Read More: Why Iran has delayed burial of Ayatollah Khamenei, 7 weeks after assassination? Report claims Iranian officials ‘too afraid’ of…
Reports have indicated that Iran’s actions were not limited to the UAE. Alleged targets included US-linked locations in countries such as Bahrain, Iraq and Kuwait, highlighting the broader scale of the tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates stated that its defence systems successfully intercepted a large number of incoming missiles and drones during the incident.