The Biden administration and Democratic politicians should stop treating Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations as “vassal states”, a Republican former envoy to the Middle East said on Friday following promises from Congress and the White House to re-evaluate or loosen ties with Riyadh.
Jason Greenblatt, who served as Middle East envoy under Donald Trump from 2017-2019, said Washington needed to be more respectful of its Gulf partners after President Joe Biden said he would “review” the US-Saudi relationship and “take action” in light of the Riyadh-led Opec+ alliance move to cut oil production last week.
The move was broadly perceived in Washington as a snub to Mr Biden, who visited Jeddah in July and asked for an increase in oil output.
Democratic members of Congress, including Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the influential Senate foreign relations committee, accused Riyadh of siding with fellow Opec+ member Russia. Mr Menendez said he would veto any future arms sales to Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom “reassesses” its position on Russia and the war in Ukraine.
“If you look at the commentary from the congressmen, and even a little bit from the White House, it's a very one-sided view,” Mr Greenblatt, who was a chief architect of the Abraham Accords, told The National.
He characterised that view of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states as patronising and pushy.
“It's: 'We believe you're aligning yourself with Russia. We want you to align [with the West] in the war against Ukraine. We'll tell you what to do, you'll make your prices for your valuable assets according to what we want.'”
Mr Greenblatt continued: “That's what a vassal state would do. … That's not the relationship that we have with these countries. And it certainly shouldn't be the relationship we have with these countries, they're allies, they're friends, and we need to respect them.”
Senator Dick Durbin, also a Democrat, went further than his colleague Mr Menendez in attacking Saudi Arabia, stating on October 6 that “it’s time for our foreign policy to imagine a world without their alliance”.
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said on Wednesday that Opec+ members acted “responsibly” in their decision to cut oil production by two million barrels per day and that they were trying to “stabilise the market and achieve the interests of producers and consumers”.
Mr Greenblatt said US threats to cut arms sales to Riyadh would only hurt America's strategic interests, as it could lead Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations to look to China and Russia for weapons.
“One way or the other, the UAE and Saudi and others are going to protect their country, they're going to protect their citizens, they're going to protect their assets,” said Mr Greenblatt, who hosts The Diplomat podcast.
“And if they have to go elsewhere to do so … I'm sure it'll be regrettable, but they'll do what they have to do to protect themselves. … If we put them in that position, this very unique and special, but highly volatile region is going to spiral in a very bad direction, in my opinion.”
Mr Greenblatt recently published a book titled: In the Path of Abraham: How Donald Trump Made Peace in the Middle East — and How to Stop Joe Biden from Unmaking It.
He said the Biden administration should do a “complete course correct when it comes to listening to the region, in particular Saudi Arabia and the UAE, understanding their concerns, standing up with them beyond mere lip service when it comes to the Houthis attacking them”.
Iran's path to a nuclear bomb
Mr Greenblatt had worked as a lawyer for Mr Trump in the private sector before joining his administration, and was serving under the Republican leader when he pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, arguing that the programme was filling Tehran's coffers even as the regime was breaking the agreement in spirit and in practice.
The Biden administration has spent the last 18 months trying to negotiate a revival of the deal, but efforts have until now been fruitless.
Mr Greenblatt said it was not clear what is in the proposed new deal but said it would probably only briefly limit the time it takes for Tehran to get a nuclear bomb, instead of completely preventing it from doing so.
In the absence of a new agreement, Mr Greenblatt said the US and Europeans should coordinate a maximum sanctions campaign, coupled with a “credible, really strong military threat that concerns Iran enough that they stop what they are doing”.
“Remember, the alternative is we do this kind of deal and very shortly thereafter, Iran has nuclear weapons,” he warned.
“During that time, while they're developing nuclear weapons, Iran is going to continue to fire rockets at Israel, fire rockets and Saudi, fire rockets at the UAE. We have to recognise that”.
On the deadly protests that have been rocking Iran for nearly a month following the death of a young Kurdish woman in police custody, Mr Greenblatt said Washington should be more vocal in support of the popular uprising.
“And if it means giving up the negotiations with Iran, that's fine. I think they should try harder to give them internet service. … They should gather the world and educate people on why Iranians are fighting.”
Washington is facing a dilemma as it monitors the biggest show of popular unrest in Iran since 2009, when hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest against what they said was the rigged election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
If the Biden administration continues to push for a nuclear deal, critics will be likely to say the White House is failing the protesters and potentially freeing up billions of dollars in sanctions relief for the very regime repressing them.
But if it abandons the nuclear talks, Tehran could feel unconstrained in building a nuclear bomb within a matter of weeks.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE%20SWIMMERS
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Manchester United's summer dealings
In
Victor Lindelof (Benfica) £30.7 million
Romelu Lukaku (Everton) £75 million
Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) £40 million
Out
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Released
Wayne Rooney (Everton) Free transfer
Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad) £9.8 million
Scoreline
Arsenal 0 Manchester City 3
- Agüero 18'
- Kompany 58'
- Silva 65'
MATCH INFO
Everton 2 Southampton 1
Everton: Walcott (15'), Richarlison (31' )
Southampton: Ings (54')
Man of the match: Theo Walcott (Everton)
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Company%C2%A0profile
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MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
Francesco Totti's bio
Born September 27, 1976
Position Attacking midifelder
Clubs played for (1) - Roma
Total seasons 24
First season 1992/93
Last season 2016/17
Appearances 786
Goals 307
Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
