By Mike Pompeo* (exclusive column to Aletihad)
In a world of constantly shifting geopolitical risks, what does sustainable security mean for the Middle East? That’s the question that occupied our minds earlier this month at the 6th annual TRENDS conference, which brought together business and political leaders from the UAE and beyond to formulate solutions to some of the world’s most complex problems.
As a forward-looking nation that has emerged as a model for the region, I can think of no more appropriate place for these discussions than Abu Dhabi.
As Secretary of State, I had the privilege of working side-by-side with my Emirati counterparts to forge the Abraham Accords, and was deeply impressed by that experience. I continue to believe that the risk that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his fellow leaders took in signing on to the Accords will be viewed as the first step toward bringing genuine peace to the region after so many years of turmoil.
The Accords were born out of a combination of common sense, frustration with the empty diplomatic models of the past, and the desire to build a better future. We wanted to find a way to isolate the bad actors – namely, Iran – who had no interest in peace with Israel, and offer an alternative model based on partnership and coexistence.
For too long, the world had accepted a status quo in which the Iranian regime used terrorist proxies and the threat of nuclear proliferation to sow chaos and position itself as a regional power.
Iran ensured that there could be no peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by surrounding Israel with the so-called “ring of fire,” and quashing any opportunities for coexistence. That status quo clearly wasn’t compatible with American or Israeli interests – but it also didn’t serve the interests of any of the Arab states that sought to advance peace and prosperity.
From the perspective of the Iranian regime, this was a disaster, as was the increasingly close security and intelligence cooperation between the US and the UAE. It’s a key reason why Tehran has attacked the UAE with ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles in recent months – even though the Emirates is not a combatant in the war. The UAE has defended itself valiantly in the face of Iranian attacks over the past eight months – fighting back and remaining resolute in the face of these acts of aggression.
The fact is, the Islamic Republic has been at war with the civilized world for nearly 50 years, and have shown time and again that it cannot be put in a box. Giving this regime the space to continue to rebuild and rearm is an invitation for perpetual instability and economic uncertainty.
Sustainable peace will only be achievable if like-minded partners in the Gulf and beyond do the necessary to ensure that Iran cannot continue to wreak havoc and hold the region hostage. That means strengthening security cooperation even further so that systems are interoperable and share a joint architecture. It means exchanging ideas at tactical, operational, and political levels. And it means continuing to expand the Abraham Accords to make clear that the future of the Middle East lies in coexistence and commerce – not never-ending bloodshed.
With the Islamic Republic approaching economic Armageddon and its “ring of fire” in tatters, the time is ripe for change. It is in the interest of all nations - but especially those in the Middle East - to put the era of terrorism and instability behind them, and pursue the path to genuine peace and prosperity. The strong partnership between the United States and our allies in the Gulf makes that outcome eminently achievable.
*The writer is a former US Secretary of State and CIA Director