Putin’s war in Ukraine, started 800 days ago, has changed the geopolitical strategy of many countries, and the Western countries have rallied to the measures against Moscow, in order to diminish its fighting capacity. Now the United States is putting heavy pressure on its ally, the United Arab Emirates, to stop double-dealing with Russia and crack down on firms that evade Kremlin sanctions or face sanctions.
US, British and EU officials visited the Gulf state last week as part of a wider coordinated effort to prevent sanctioned goods from reaching Russia, according to MSN.
Western officials have asked the UAE in a series of separate meetings to share detailed trade information about its exports to Russia and re-exports of so-called dual-use goods that have both civilian and military purposes.
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A US State Department spokesman said a US delegation visited the United Arab Emirates as part of an ongoing dialogue on transshipment trends, particularly of dual-use goods that support Russia’s defense industrial base.
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Among Western concerns is that UAE companies are involved in exporting computer chips, electronics, cars and other sanctioned products to Russia that could be used to aid Moscow’s military effort against Ukraine.
UAE imports of sanctioned dual-use goods have surged since Russia was hit by Western sanctions, the sources said, adding that trade data from Russia showed the origin of the imported sanctioned goods to be the Gulf state.
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The sources said UAE officials last week repeated assurances given in September that export controls had been put in place to ban the export of sanctioned products, without providing any evidence of such measures.
Sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, including bans on exports of sensitive goods, have been largely enforced by Western states, and other countries are not necessarily bound to comply.
However, the US has cracked down on individuals and companies circumventing sanctions, including in the United Arab Emirates, and pressured NATO member Turkey, among others. The UAE official said Abu Dhabi has a clear and robust process to deal with sanctioned entities, which has been exercised against several companies since the start of the war.
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“We remain in close dialogue with our international partners, including the US and the EU, regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its implications for the global economy,” the official said.
Sources familiar with Western diplomatic relations with the UAE said it was likely that more UAE companies could soon be hit by Western sanctions for circumventing sanctions against Russia.
The United Arab Emirates, a magnet for wealth and international trade, has sought to balance its ties with Washington, its most important security partner, and Moscow.
The Gulf state’s economy has benefited from an influx of Russian wealth, drawing the attention of Washington and other Western allies who have sought to isolate Moscow from the war.
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