US senator Lindsey Graham warns Saudi Crown Prince amid UAE dispute

Munich: The United States has entered the Saudi Arabia-UAE dispute. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, has advised Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the Saudi Arabia-UAE dispute. He said on Friday that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should end his feud with the United Arab Emirates. Relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE are severely strained. The two countries are not only at loggerheads in Yemen and Sudan, but also accuse each other of posing security threats.

Lindsey Graham Advises Saudi Arabia

Lindsey Graham said at the Munich Security Conference, "Saudi Arabia, stop this, stop it. I'm tired of this nonsense. MBZ is not a Zionist, and you're emboldening Iran with this conflict." MBZ is the acronym for UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Graham also objected to the continued criticism of the UAE by the Saudi Arabian government, experts, and analysts. He urged the immediate normalization of relations between the two countries, stating that it was in America's best interest.

Why are Saudi Arabia-UAE relations tense?

Relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been strained for years, but they have remained largely peaceful. Tensions between the two countries reached a peak when Saudi Arabia launched an attack against UAE allies in Yemen. Following this, Saudi Arabia initiated measures to expel UAE forces and their local supporters from Yemen. Under pressure from Saudi Arabia, the Houthi rebel government in Yemen ordered UAE troops to leave the country and expelled its allied fighters. Saudi Arabia had described these rebels as a threat to its security, although the UAE rejected this.

Saudi Arabia and UAE also face off in Sudan

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are at loggerheads over Sudan, where Saudi Arabia, along with Turkey and Egypt, supports the Sudanese army. The UAE supports the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Saudi Arabia is drawing closer to Eritrea and Somalia, while the UAE is strengthening its ties with Ethiopia.