The UAE's 'Anti-Islamist' Crusade: Funding Europe's Far Right to Control the Narrative
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab reports that the UAE is actively cultivating relationships with Europe's far-right politicians and media figures, ostensibly to counter 'political Islam.' This includes funding for figures like Tommy Robinson and hosting conferences for ultranationalist parties. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: This alignment is not new. The UAE, like other Gulf
monarchies, has historically received unwavering support from Western powers despite its autocratic nature and human rights record. This mirrors the post-WWII strategy where Western nations often propped up authoritarian regimes in the Middle East—such as the Pahlavi monarchy in Iran before the 1979 revolution—to secure oil interests and maintain regional stability against perceived threats. The
'war on terror' provided a convenient framework for these alliances to deepen, shifting from 'communism' to 'Islamism' as the primary bogeyman. Double Standard: When Western governments, particularly the US, funnel aid and military support to 'moderate' rebel groups (often with al-Qaeda links, as seen in Syria during the 2010s) or support coups against democratically elected leaders (like the 2019
lithium coup in Bolivia), it's framed as 'promoting democracy' or 'national interest.' Yet, when the UAE funds European far-right parties known for Islamophobia, it's merely 'combating political Islam'—a sanitizing phrase that deflects from the inherent bigotry and anti-democratic tendencies of these groups. The West condemns 'foreign interference' when it suits them, but embraces it when it