Today's Edition
TAHA HASEEB AND ASILA AL BADI (ABU DHABI)
The 21st Aletihad Forum, held on Tuesday under the theme “International Relations and Alliances: Current Realities and Strategic Significance”, brought together academics, diplomats and political commentators to discuss the changing nature of international alliances and the challenges shaping global relations.
The Abu Dhabi Media Network hosted the annual forum, marking the 57th anniversary of Aletihad newspaper, which was founded on October 20, 1969.
In his opening remarks, Dr Hamad Al Kaabi, Chief Aletihad News Center Officer, said the forum’s theme was selected in response to the rapid developments witnessed across the region since the end of February and the challenges they have posed to regional security.
He noted that these developments threatened energy security and global supply chains, with repercussions extending worldwide, underscoring the necessity of regional cooperation to confront shared threats and build alliances that continuously evolve across all sectors, enabling nations to dedicate greater resources to development and progress.
Dr Al Kaabi said the region remained in urgent need of lasting peace — a goal that required alliances capable not only of providing deterrence but also of creating opportunities through partnerships in advanced technology, artificial intelligence and economic cooperation.
"In this regard, the UAE has successfully concluded 38 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements to date, with that number continuing to grow month after month," he said.
Alliances Built on Trust
Retired Air Vice Marshal Abdullah Al Sayed Al Hashemi delivered the forum's keynote address, outlining four foundations for successful alliances.
The first is a clear shared interest. Alliances emerge from common interests or shared threats, and without those interests, they weaken regardless of formal agreements.
The second is clearly defined mutual commitments, specifying responsibilities before crises occur rather than during them.
The third is credibility backed by capability, as promises without the means to deliver provide little deterrence.
The fourth is equitable burden-sharing, as allies who take without contributing eventually become liabilities.
He added that current realities show the UAE has chosen the right path: "Strength that protects, an economy that connects, diplomacy that brings people together, and an independent decision-making process."
Economic and Scientific Alliances
Egyptian media figure Tawfik Okasha praised the UAE's development model and the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
He highlighted the role of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development in supporting numerous countries and strengthening ties with the UAE.
Okasha argued that the most effective alliances are economic and scientific — rather than purely military — rooted in knowledge exchange and economic integration.
"There can be no effective military mechanism without a strong economy, and economic prosperity also requires security," he said, stressing that economic alliances should precede military partnerships.
Non-ideological Alliances
A forum session titled "Current International Alliances and Future Trajectories", moderated by Saeed Al Sawafi, featured a paper by Professor Radwan El Sayed, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities.
Prof. Al Sayed argued that contemporary alliances are largely non-ideological and reflect the diversity of national interests. Such alliances can help countries achieve greater strategic autonomy.
He called for stronger Gulf and Arab partnerships and urged reforms to regional institutions, including the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
At the same time, he stressed the importance of revitalising international institutions, particularly the United Nations.
Towards a Shared Vision
In a presentation titled "Challenges Shaping New Foundations for Future Alliances", Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri, Deputy Director-General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, said the region after February 28 would not be the same as before.
He highlighted the importance of activating the GCC Joint Defence Agreement signed in December 2000, including the establishment of early-warning centres, while calling for a unified Gulf approach in dealing with Iran.
Al Dhaheri noted that the UAE had successfully intercepted more than 90% of hostile missile attacks while maintaining normal daily life. He also highlighted the country's success in developing alternative energy corridors that benefit GCC states.
He pointed to the UAE's network of more than 38 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements and noted that 75% of the country's income now comes from the non-oil economy.
From Alliances to Partnerships
Emirati writer Mohammed Faisal Al Dosari said the UAE has moved beyond traditional alliances towards long-term partnerships, which are more sustainable and resilient.
He described the tensions experienced in the region during 2026 as a test of the UAE's strategic partnerships, noting that the country successfully safeguarded its national security, protected its economy and managed crises effectively.
Alliances Needed in Times of Turmoil
Another session, moderated by journalist Hamed Al Maashani, examined how alliances evolve and adapt. During the session, Ambassador Ahmed Al Hosani presented a paper on successful alliance models in confronting challenges.
Al Housani said the events that have reshaped the region since February 28 highlighted the growing need for resilient alliances capable of withstanding crises and sustaining development, growth and prosperity.
Emirati writer Dr Abdulla Al Awadhi argued that decades of regional conflict, from the Arab-Israeli wars and the Iran-Iraq War to the invasion of Kuwait, the US-led invasion of Iraq, the Arab Spring and more recent conflicts, demonstrate the continuing need for alliances capable of addressing instability.
The Alliance the Region Needs
In a session titled "Do Crises Create Alliances or Develop Them?", moderated by journalist Duaa Al Hammadi, former diplomat and academic Dr Abdullah Juma Al Haj said the region's desired alliance should be one dedicated to peace, sustainable development and progress.
He called on regional countries to embrace the principles of good neighbourliness, arguing that such values offer the best path to security and prosperity.
Former Indian diplomat Zikrur Rahman, President of the Centre for Islamic Studies in New Delhi, said a successful alliance is not one that merely identifies an enemy, but one that clearly defines the peace it seeks to preserve, the development it seeks to achieve and the future it wants to secure for its people.
Measuring a True Alliance
Writer and researcher Khalifa Khalid said a genuine alliance should not be judged by the number of member states or the size of its military capabilities, but by the clarity of its objectives, the fairness of its commitments, its ability to make decisions and the level of acceptance it enjoys among participating nations and peoples.
He noted that the UAE maintains partnerships with a range of countries, including the US, Russia, the UK and France, reflecting a diversified approach rather than dependence on a single alliance framework.
"A true alliance is built on a shared strategic vision at the regional and global levels," Khalid added.
