The visit of a number of senior Emirati military officials to the Chinese capital, Beijing, came to discuss various aspects of the defense and military relationship and how the UAE could obtain Chinese fifth-generation stealth fighters to confront the United States and Israel, following their intransigence with the Emirati side regarding arming it with this type of advanced American fighter (F-35), produced by the American company Lockheed Martin. The F-35 fighter is a stealth fighter of the United States’ generation, and its refusal to supply it to the UAE came out of concern for Israel’s superiority in the region, despite the Abraham Accords concluded between them and despite the fact that the United States has thousands of American troops stationed at an Emirati air base 20 miles outside the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. However, the Abraham Accords with the UAE and the US military bases there were not sufficient to persuade the United States to reverse its decision to refuse to supply the UAE with advanced American (F-35) fighter jets. US President Trump’s recent visit to the UAE in mid-May 2025, along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, was also not sufficient to persuade the US to acquiesce to the demands of the Emiratis, Saudis, and Qataris to obtain American (F-35) fighter jets from them. Despite the presence of the Al-Udeid Air Base within Qatari territory, this was not sufficient for the US to show flexibility. This confirms that the United States is playing the card of its interests with everyone.
From my analytical perspective, the United States and Israel are refusing to supply their allies in the region, especially the UAE, with advanced American fifth-generation stealth technology to ensure they need it to confront the attacks of the Iranian-backed Houthis. For example, with the increase in Houthi airstrikes launched from the Yemeni mountains against sensitive and strategically important areas in the UAE in 2022, the UAE came under threat. When it repeatedly requested the supply of (advanced American F-35 fighter jets) from both the United States and Israel, the request was met with a complete refusal. This was intended to exert pressure on the UAE regarding its confrontation with Iran and the Houthi militias supported by it.
Therefore, the UAE turned to China as an alternative to the American (F-35) fighter jets as part of its efforts to bolster its defenses after a series of Houthi attacks. Accordingly, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced its intention to contract with the “China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation” (CATIC). The US and Israel viewed this as an Emirati rush toward Beijing, an ally of Iran, in its confrontation with them, despite the Abraham Accords and the presence of US bases on the UAE border. This proves the theory that both Israel and the United States are playing on their own interests, even when confronting their allies like the UAE, to weaken them and ensure future control through Iran’s backdoor. They use the pretext of protecting them from Houthi attacks rather than arming and training them technically and militarily with advanced technology that would enable them to defend themselves.
To this end, the UAE’s military decision to acquire new weapons and aircraft from China was made to confront a situation it had not faced since its founding on December 2, 1971, due to attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis. This is especially true given the growing Emirati concerns about Houthi attacks, which severely impact its economy, which is primarily based on foreign investment and tourism. This may reflect a crisis of confidence in US relations with the UAE. Therefore, Washington must reconsider its calculations and repair its relations with the UAE militarily if it intends to achieve a full peace process with them through the Abraham Accords with Israel. While the proposed arms deal to the UAE from Washington has been under discussion for years, it was subsequently used as an additional incentive for the UAE to secure the conclusion of the normalization agreement between the UAE and Israel. Despite this, the United States is stubbornly refusing to guarantee the UAE’s completion of any military deal related to the US-made fifth-generation stealth fighter (F-35).
Despite the signing of the Abraham Accords between the UAE and Tel Aviv under US auspices, this did not help the UAE secure a US contract to sell advanced (F-35 fighter jets) to them. The same applies to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. This is despite Washington opening channels of communication with all parties to strengthen and secure the current or future peace process with Tel Aviv. Nevertheless, the fact that these Gulf states, even those that have normalized relations with Israel, was never an acceptable excuse for the United States to violate its terms and promises to supply only Tel Aviv with its advanced defense system in the region.
The UAE’s growing frustration with the stalled (F-35) deal with Washington, possibly mediated by Israel after the UAE concluded a normalization and peace agreement with Israel, has prompted the UAE to explore other options, including the Chinese fifth-generation stealth fighter known as the Chengdu J-20 (known by its military acronym “J-20”). The J-20 is produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.
This led to a visit by the UAE’s Chief of Joint Operations to Beijing in late April 2024 to meet with the commander of the Chinese Air Force. This indicates a potential Emirati shift toward Chinese military technology in confrontation with the United States and its Israeli ally. Considering that the American (F-35) and the Chinese (J-20) both feature fifth-generation stealth technology.
The US rejected the UAE’s request to acquire its own F-35 fighter jet, ensuring Israel’s qualitative military superiority in the Middle East. To this end, the UAE turned to China to purchase the advanced Chinese stealth fighter system in the face of Israeli and American intransigence. Despite US President Donald Trump’s visit to the UAE in April 2025, this did not lead to flexibility on the part of the US to overcome obstacles and award the UAE contracts to acquire these (American F-35 fighters), which Israel alone possesses in the region. Therefore, the UAE turned to China militarily to obtain the Chinese fifth-generation fighter jet “J-20.” The J-20, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, represents a significant advance in Chinese military aviation globally and is known by its military codename “Mighty Dragon” within China.
The Chinese J-20 aircraft are expected to significantly enhance the UAE’s air capabilities, as this fifth-generation Chinese fighter aircraft boasts stealth technology, high maneuverability, and advanced sensor systems, making it a powerful addition to any air force. In this context, the “China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation” (CATIC), known militarily as “CATIC,” announced the signing of a contract with the United Arab Emirates for the sale of 12 advanced trainer and light combat aircraft, known as L-15 Hongdu.
On the other hand, American concerns about supplying the UAE with American F-35 fighter jets arise from concerns that the 5G technology supplied by the Chinese company Huawei to the UAE, which is used in communications stations, air bases, and other national security facilities, could allow Beijing to closely study the operational capabilities of the American F-35 if it were supplied to the UAE. The United States is accusing the UAE of using Chinese Huawei technology to counter its actions. This prompted the US government to repeatedly request the UAE to remove Huawei Technologies from its UAE telecommunications network, with the US constantly warning the UAE that Chinese technology could pose an increased security risk to its US weapons systems. This is the same thing that the commander of US Central Command, General “Michael Eric Kurill”a, confirmed to the Senate Armed Services Committee during his nomination hearing in 2022, that he “believes the UAE is looking at other capabilities from its partners, such as China, militarily, which is detrimental to US national security.”
To this end, the UAE has repeatedly been frustrated by Israeli and American intransigence in confronting it after they rejected a multi-billion-dollar contract to purchase American F-35 fighter jets. This reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing frustration with Washington’s attempts to restrict Chinese technology sales to the UAE, despite its signing of the Abraham Accords with Israel. Emirati officials have also questioned US allegations of a potential Chinese security breach by“ Huawe”i, a Chinese company operating in the UAE, and expressed concern about falling into the trap of a “new Cold War” between a major trading partner like China and a key strategic ally like the United States.
US pressures on the UAE did not stop at denying it military access to the American fifth-generation fighter jet (F-35). A Chinese cargo port under construction near Abu Dhabi was halted after intense US pressure on the UAE to close the Chinese facility due to US suspicions that it was being used for military purposes within the UAE. At the time, several US officials warned that security concerns regarding the Chinese presence within the UAE were a stumbling block to US-UAE military cooperation.
Based on previous military analysis and an understanding of all its aspects and dimensions, the UAE’s friendly relations with Washington were not sufficient for Washington to supply the UAE with American F-35 fighter jets. The United States considers the UAE’s growing ties with China a continuing source of concern, particularly in the context of the anticipated arms deal between the two countries. Washington has been stubbornly refusing to conclude, pass, or even finalize it for the Emiratis, even after Trump’s last visit to the region in mid-May 2025, under the pretext of engaging with China. The reality indicates that Washington and Tel Aviv desire to continue their role as “protectors” of the UAE from attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis, rather than arming and training the UAE’s military and training and arming the UAE’s regional allies, such as Egypt, to defend themselves. This is the delicate American and Israeli game against the UAE and everyone else.
