The UAE’s Strategy of Multi-Alignment: A Dilemma for the EU and O

This joint Clingendael Institute and Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy Policy Brief interprets the motivations and implications of the accession of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the BRICS cooperation format, especially from the perspective of the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In its economic diplomacy, the UAE emphasizes the dominance of the pragmatic logic of geoeconomic partnerships and connectivity over geopolitical considerations. In this strategy, BRICS membership proves to occupy a distinct and complementary niche, offering the UAE strategic advantages such as flexible cooperation, an enhanced platform within the Global South and a seat at the table next to leaders such as Xi, Modi and Putin. To better cope with the challenge posed by the grouping, the EU should recognise the appeal of the BRICS instead of simply dismissing it as an anti-Western project and counter it with delivery.

Firstly, the EU-UAE Free Trade Agreement (FTA) needs to be finalised based on both European and Emirati interests (potentially expanding it to the whole Gulf Cooperation Council). Secondly, progress could be made through so-called minilateral projects, connecting just the EU or a few EU or OECD member states to UAE initiatives to enhance economic connectivity. By linking UAE initiatives to for instance Global Gateway projects in the renewable energy sector and by continuing to use the OECD as a forum for regulatory alignment the dependency on both the US and China could be reduced. 

Authors

Raoul Bunskoek - Lead of Clingendael China Centre / Senior Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute

Narayanappa Janardhan - Director of Research Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy

Máté Szalai - Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute

Tobias Koster - Researcher at the Clingendael Institute