In his address on Saturday to the annual Manama Dialogue, an international security summit taking place in Bahrain, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin broadly provided two assurances to America's Arab allies. First, he reiterated his country's commitment to the region. Second, he acknowledged the multi-dimensional nature of the threat that Iran poses to Middle East security, well beyond its nuclear weapons programme.
The defence secretary's remarks, which also covered the pandemic and climate change, will be welcomed by those who want to stabilise the region. But the administration of US President Joe Biden must also take specific steps – in concert with its allies – towards containing Tehran's security challenge to the Arab world.
Mr Austin's visit to the Middle East, including a trip to the UAE, is his first to the region since the US's withdrawal from Afghanistan in August. The chaotic nature of the pull-out, which paved the way for the Taliban's total takeover of Afghanistan, had left Washington's allies around the world deeply circumspect over its commitment to their collective security – and its competence. Mr Austin acknowledged concerns that the US was reorienting much of its focus from the Middle East and Central Asia to concentrate instead on containing its superpower rivals, namely China and Russia, but he assured allies of America's continued presence in the region.
Mr Austin's speech in Manama also comes at a time when the Biden administration is seeking to assuage Arab countries' trepidation over the manner in which it has sought to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Mr Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, had pulled America out of the pact in 2018, in recognition that a deal that excludes measures to contain Iran's ballistic missiles programme and its support of terror groups inside some Arab countries is incomplete.
On Thursday, however, the Gulf Co-operation Council joined regional allies Egypt and Jordan, as well as the US, France, Germany and the UK in calling for the revival of the nuclear deal, provided Iran demonstrates good faith. It is significant that the joint statement – released following a meeting involving US Iran envoy Robert Malley in Saudi Arabia – "called for an urgent mutual return to full compliance" with the nuclear deal while also condemning a "range of aggressive and dangerous Iranian policies, including the proliferation and direct use of advanced ballistic missiles" and drones.
An alignment between the West and its Arab allies over the need not only to revive the deal, but also build on it, is an important step towards peace in the region. Mr Austin's address seemed to acknowledge this, when he condemned Tehran's support for terrorism via a number of proxies in the Arab world. He said: "Iran should have no illusions that it can undermine our strong relationships in the region. And we will defend ourselves, and our friends, and our interests."
There is still more work to do. The US should, for instance, exert continued pressure on Tehran over the smuggling of arms to its proxies, particularly the Houthi rebels in war-torn Yemen. Indeed, the militia has over the past seven years developed an increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile arsenal – despite a UN arms embargo on the country – due to Tehran's support.
The West must also insist on including Arab countries' concerns during negotiations with Iran. After all, how can there be peace in any region when the voices of that region's stakeholders are not heard at the table?
Teaching in coronavirus times
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
