The United Arab Emirates announced its withdrawal from the Combined Maritime Forces (C.M.F.) base in Bahrain–spearheaded by the U.S. to protect Gulf shipping interests–following the Iranian naval force’s frequent tanker seizures, reported Reuters.
“As a result of our ongoing evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners, two months ago, the U.A.E. withdrew its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement cited by state news agency W.A.M.
The Gulf state declared that it remains committed to upholding the safety of navigation in its own seas in line with international law.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.A.E. urged the U.S. “to make more muscular actions to deter Iran” after Tehran seized two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
U.A.E., however, stated that this was a “mischaracterization” between the U.S. and the Emirates negotiations.
The C.M.F. is headquartered at the U.S. Naval Base in Bahrain and contains task units from 34 countries. It fights terrorism and piracy in the Persian Gulf and in the Red Sea, which are regarded as two of the world’s most significant commercial routes.