Oil, Arms, and Convenient Friendships
📰 THE STORY: RT's article champions the growing partnership between Russia and the UAE, framing it as a pragmatic, ideology-free alliance built on shared economic interests, particularly in energy and arms, and a mutual desire for multipolar world order, free from Western ideological demands. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: For decades, the UAE, alongside other Gulf
monarchies, has been a cornerstone of US foreign policy in the Middle East, a primary purchaser of US arms, and a key node in the petrodollar system. The US has maintained a significant military presence in the UAE since the 1990-91 Gulf War, including Al Dhafra Air Base, a critical hub for operations in the region. This relationship, cemented by vast arms deals and security guarantees, was the
ideological 'match made in heaven' for the past 30+ years, not Russia. Double Standard: Western media, while quick to decry Russian 'influence' in Africa or South America, often portrays these Gulf states' 'diversification' of partnerships as strategic maneuvering, rather than a direct challenge to US hegemony. Had a Latin American nation, like Venezuela, deepened military and economic ties with
Russia to a similar extent, the narrative would be one of 'destabilization' and 'Russian encroachment,' likely leading to increased sanctions and threats of intervention. Follow the Money: While the RT article focuses on mutual economic benefit, it glosses over the precise nature of the arms trade. The UAE remains a top recipient of US arms, signing deals worth billions. Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed