This article was written by Dr. Abdul-Khaliq Abdullah, an academic and professor of political science from the United Arab Emirates, and the views below are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of CNN.
A letter from an Emirati academic to the US President
Mr. President Joe Biden
I am pleased to welcome you on your first visit to the region, and I wish you a happy trip and a successful visit, as you are the leader of the most powerful country on earth and the head of the most important strategic partner for the Arab Gulf states that realize the importance of this partnership and want to maintain it, rather strengthen it and move it to new strategic horizons and promising.
Mr president
The Arab Gulf states, as they are fully aware, live next to a difficult Iranian neighbor who poses the greatest threat to the security and stability of the region and has a revolutionary and sectarian agenda and is rapidly moving to build huge nuclear and missile capabilities and supports terrorist militias with money and weapons that tamper with the security and stability of the region and direct their terrorist activities towards the Arab Gulf states. Confronting Iran’s activities is the most important item on your visit schedule to the countries of the region, which are uneasy regarding Washington’s rush towards Iran and its uncalculated rush to sign the nuclear agreement. The Arab Gulf states are the closest to Iran and understand Tehran more than others and inevitably more than America, so let you listen carefully to their legitimate concern regarding Iranian expansion instead of pushing them to accept a nuclear agreement that consolidates Iran’s hegemony and reinforces its plans to become the policeman of the Arab Gulf.
Mr president…
It comes to the region amid increasing talk that Washington is reconsidering its presence in the Arab Gulf, and that it intends to withdraw from the Middle East to confront the Russian threat and deal with the rise of China. There is no doubt that this is a purely American affair, but it is important for Washington to understand and understand that the Arab Gulf states also have their own national agendas and geopolitical priorities that are different from Washington’s, including the process of diversifying its partnerships and deepening its relations with the emerging global powers. You, Mr. President, have to understand and respect this future Gulf orientation, and not obstruct its course or force it to serve American agendas that do not coincide with future Gulf agendas. Without a deep American understanding of this future Gulf orientation, it is impossible to establish a promising and balanced strategic partnership.
Mr president
The time has come for America to also reconcile with a new geopolitical reality, which is that there is a new Arab Gulf that is confident in itself and in its present and future and realizes how to employ its oil, gas and sovereign funds to serve its national interests. The new Arab Gulf is the center of the new Arab decision and is living its moment in history. Therefore, we hope that you will reconsider your old postulates and convictions regarding the Arab Gulf. What your institutions, intelligence, and expert houses in Washington say have nothing to do with the Gulf of the twenty-first century. They have not yet come to terms with the fact that this Arabian Gulf is different from the Gulf of the twentieth century. If you come with the mentality of dealing with the old Persian Gulf, know in advance that your visit will be incomplete and unhelpful, and it may be better to stay in Washington.
Mr president
During your visit to the region, you will meet the new leaders of the Arab Gulf states who are as old as your children and some of them are as old as your grandchildren. You will find them all very warmly welcome, but it may be useful to realize that their world is different from yours, and that their confidence in America has been shaken recently, and is not as strong as that of the father’s generation. The new Arab Gulf leaders are convinced that the time has come for a different and inevitably balanced partnership. Is America ready to meet the desires and aspirations of the new Arab Gulf leaders who have confirmed their unwillingness to go along with Washington in the small and large from now on, and have reached such confidence that they are more than ready to say no to Washington. You may hear many no’s from them during the meeting with them. I hope you prepare for that.
Mr president
It will come to the region when the Gulf oil and gas have regained its prestige and its financial and strategic value. The Persian Gulf is the global oil center of gravity and will remain so indefinitely, and America and the world must reconcile with that. In short, the important Gulf oil has become more important, and it is the real king following its financial, strategic and negotiating value has doubled in light of the increasing dependence of Europe and Asia on Gulf oil and gas. The Arab Gulf states realize that oil is what prompted you to visit the region, and it is okay to be more frank in admitting this, instead of covering your visit with contradictory statements at times, sometimes funny, and not befitting the leader of a superpower. The Arab Gulf states may be willing to meet the request of the American partner to raise the ceiling of oil production, but there is a price that America must pay. The most important price is for you to speak from now on regarding the Arab Gulf states and their leaders with respect, and to recognize the importance of these countries in the new world order. Do you carry the right price in your pocket?
Mr president
Forget the boring talk regarding human rights and democracy. Please do not go too far in bringing up this topic, which is not its place, time and audience. America is not convincing when it talks regarding this file, and its democratic model has lost its luster in light of societal division, political and Washington paralysis, and excess violence fueled by the emergence of racism and the extreme right. You have to realize, Mr. President, that talking regarding this issue is a waste of your time and the time of the Arab Gulf leaders. You will not find a deafening Gulf ear to listen to sterile lectures on human rights.
Mr president
All I wish is that you put your Bideni faith aside, and that you do not allow your visit to serve Israeli agendas. The time when America commands and the world obeys is over. Finally, I hope that the thoughts of this Emirati academic will find their way into your heart and mind so that you can prepare early to meet new Gulf leaders, and a new Arab Gulf looks forward to a Gulf-American partnership with new foundations that keep pace with the emergence of a new world order.
