The Strait of Hormuz is an international public good that must remain open for commercial passage and cannot be controlled by any single entity.
Any security agreement with Iran is unacceptable unless it places definitive and final limits on Iran's missile, drone, naval, and nuclear enrichment programs.
The economic partnership with the United States is a cornerstone of UAE strategy, demonstrated by a commitment to invest trillions of dollars in the U.S. economy.
The UAE is resilient, having successfully intercepted hundreds of drones and missiles during a recent large-scale attack and maintained economic stability.
While committed to regional cooperation, recent conflicts have revealed weaknesses and divergent strategies within the GCC, necessitating a reinforcement of other strategic partnerships, including with Israel.
Jan 17, 2022
Al Hashimy states the UAE was attacked by the Houthis, which she identifies as an Iranian proxy group.
Feb 28 (year unspecified)
Marks the beginning of an unprecedented 40-day conflict, with the UAE receiving a barrage of 137 missiles and over 300 drones on the first day from a nation across the Gulf.
Post-Feb 28
Following the start of the attack, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, selectively controlling passage for commercial vessels and demanding fees.
During 40-day conflict
A total of 2,800 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones were launched at the UAE over this period.
Post-conflict
The conflict exposed 'fault lines' within the GCC. The UAE hardened its position, stating it will not accept any security arrangement with Iran that doesn't limit its military and nuclear programs.
Ongoing
The UAE continues to pursue its relationship with Israel through the Abraham Accords as a means to address major regional challenges.
▶The Strait of Hormuz as a Global Economic ChokepointMay 2026
Al Hashimy repeatedly emphasizes the Strait's critical importance to the global economy, citing specific figures for the transit of oil (25%), natural gas (25%), fertilizers (30%), and petrochemicals (70%). She frames Iran's interference with passage as a direct threat to international commerce and stability, not just a regional dispute.
This framing is a strategic effort to internationalize the conflict with Iran, making a case that global powers have a vested economic interest in protecting the UAE and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Gulf.
▶The US-UAE Economic and Security NexusMay 2026
The relationship with the United States is portrayed as a deep, strategic partnership anchored in immense economic ties. Al Hashimy quantifies this with figures like $1 trillion already invested in the U.S., a future commitment of $1.4 trillion over ten years, and over $35 billion in annual trade.
By highlighting these massive financial figures, Al Hashimy underscores the UAE's value and leverage as a partner, implicitly arguing that American economic interests are inextricably linked to Emirati security.
▶The Iranian Threat and Red Lines for De-escalation
Al Hashimy details an unprecedented, 40-day military assault on the UAE, which she attributes to Iran, involving 2,800 projectiles. She establishes clear, non-negotiable conditions for any future security arrangement, demanding a 'clear and final conclusion' to Iran's missile, drone, naval, and nuclear enrichment programs.
This articulates a hardened UAE stance that has moved beyond containment to demanding a fundamental rollback of Iran's offensive military capabilities as a prerequisite for peace, setting a very high bar for future diplomacy.
▶Realigning Regional AlliancesMay 2026
The recent conflict is presented as a catalyst that reinforced the value of partnerships with Israel (via the Abraham Accords), South Korea, Australia, and France. Concurrently, Al Hashimy candidly admits the crisis exposed 'fault lines' and 'different orientations' within the GCC, signaling a potential shift in regional power dynamics.
The UAE is signaling a diversification of its security relationships beyond the traditional GCC framework, pursuing a more pragmatic, multi-aligned foreign policy where bilateral ties may supersede historical regional blocs.