Impact on the UAE National Security (Dissertation Sample)

The US-UAE Military Bilateral Arrangements: Impact on the UAE National Security
Student’s Name
June 2015
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to this research. My family, friends and professors have supported me throughout my work and encouraged me in my endeavors. All these people had a firm belief that I would be able to complete the task within the stipulated time period. I am thankful to them for their faith in me and I am happy and satisfied that I could live up to their expectations.
DECLARATION
I declare that the work in this thesis was carried out in accordance with the regulations of Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research. The work is entirely my own except where indicated by special reference in the text. Any views expressed in the thesis are those of the author and in no way represent those of Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research. No part of the thesis has been presented to any other university for any degree.
Signed:
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Date:
___________________ABSTRACT
The US-UAE security bilateral relations have mutually beneficial implications for both countries. The US is able to utilize the arrangements to enhance its influence in the Gulf region. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks which occurred within the US, the country has been highly proactive in the global initiative to combat terrorist organizations. It is due to this initiative that the country has sought to enhance its strategic partnerships in the Gulf region, and hence influence the regional political framework. The most significant advantage for the UAE from the security bilateral arrangements with the US, can be identified as the attainment of the latest military technology and the equipment. The country has also attained strategic support from the US intelligence services and the vast US military bases which have been developed in the region. This study has critically analysed the dynamics of the US-UAE security bilateral arrangements, and their impact on the current and the future national security objectives of UAE. Although the UAE has been able to enhance its military capability, due to the arrangements with the US, it has also exposed itself to a high level of national security threat. As a strategic partner of the US, the UAE has to align its regional and the international policies with US foreign policy. This initiative leads to the UAE being identified as a supporter of the US cause and results in it becoming a target for anti US forces from a regional and the global perspective. This study has critically analysed the national security implications for the UAE, in terms of the security bilateral arrangements with the United States of America.
Table of Contents
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Table of Contents  PAGEREF _Toc420541213 \h
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ABBREVIATIONS  PAGEREF _Toc420541214 \h
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LIST OF FIGURES  PAGEREF _Toc420541215 \h
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LIST OF TABLES  PAGEREF _Toc420541216 \h
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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION  PAGEREF _Toc420541217 \h
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1.1 Introduction to Chapter  PAGEREF _Toc420541218 \h
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1.2 Background & Contemporary Factors  PAGEREF _Toc420541219 \h
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1.3 Problem Statement  PAGEREF _Toc420541220 \h
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1.4 Research Aim & Objectives  PAGEREF _Toc420541221 \h
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1.5 Research Questions  PAGEREF _Toc420541222 \h
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1.6 Hypothesis  PAGEREF _Toc420541223 \h
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1.7 Concepts, Variables & Indicators  PAGEREF _Toc420541224 \h
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1.8 Research Significance  PAGEREF _Toc420541225 \h
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW  PAGEREF _Toc420541226 \h
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2.1 Core Components of US-UAE Security Bilateral Arrangements  PAGEREF _Toc420541227 \h
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2.2 The US-UAE Cooperation Dynamics  PAGEREF _Toc420541228 \h
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2.3 Strategic Impact of the Defense Cooperation Agreement  PAGEREF _Toc420541229 \h
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2.4 Strategic Training & Intelligence Sharing Program  PAGEREF _Toc420541230 \h
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CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY  PAGEREF _Toc420541231 \h
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3.1 Introduction to Chapter  PAGEREF _Toc420541232 \h
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3.2 Research Design  PAGEREF _Toc420541233 \h
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3.3 Methodology  PAGEREF _Toc420541234 \h
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3.4 Methods  PAGEREF _Toc420541235 \h
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3.3 Case Study – Trade Activity with Iran  PAGEREF _Toc420541236 \h
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3.3.1 Introduction & Historical Context  PAGEREF _Toc420541237 \h
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3.3.2 National Security & Economic Implications of US-UAE Relations  PAGEREF _Toc420541238 \h
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3.3.3 Conclusion  PAGEREF _Toc420541239 \h
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3.4 Case Study – UAE Foreign Policy on Israeli/Arab Issue  PAGEREF _Toc420541240 \h
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3.4.1 History & Background  PAGEREF _Toc420541241 \h
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3.4.2 Impact on the US-UAE Relations  PAGEREF _Toc420541242 \h
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3.4.3 Conclusion  PAGEREF _Toc420541243 \h
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3.5 Impact of the Realism Theory  PAGEREF _Toc420541244 \h
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Power as Source of Certainty  PAGEREF _Toc420541245 \h
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5.1 Strategic National Self Defense Objectives  PAGEREF _Toc420541246 \h
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5.2 Significance of Transnational Societies & Laws  PAGEREF _Toc420541247 \h
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CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION  PAGEREF _Toc420541248 \h
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4.1 The Future National Security Dilemmas for UAE  PAGEREF _Toc420541249 \h
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4.2 Collaborative Fighting Capabilities  PAGEREF _Toc420541250 \h
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4.3 Strategic Geopolitical Positioning  PAGEREF _Toc420541251 \h
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4.4 Immigrant Dependent Business Sector  PAGEREF _Toc420541252 \h
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CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH ANALYSIS  PAGEREF _Toc420541253 \h
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5.3 Case Analysis  PAGEREF _Toc420541254 \h
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5.3.1 Limitations on UAE National Security by ‘US-UAE Bilateral Security Arrangements’  PAGEREF _Toc420541255 \h
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5.3.2 Impact on the Iran-UAE Relations  PAGEREF _Toc420541256 \h
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CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION  PAGEREF _Toc420541257 \h
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6.1 Conclusion  PAGEREF _Toc420541258 \h
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6.2 Recommendations & future research  PAGEREF _Toc420541259 \h
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References  PAGEREF _Toc420541260 \h
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ABBREVIATIONS
1. UAE: fThe United Arab Emirates
2. DCA: Defence Cooperation Agreement
3. NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
4. ISIS: Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
5. CSI: Container Security Initiative
6. MOFA: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
7. MOI: Ministry of Interior
8. GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council
9. SOFA: The Status of Forces Agreement
10. OIF: Operation Iraqi Freedom
11. DNRA: Dubai Naturalization and Residency Administration
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: UAE Re-Exports to Iran…………………………………………………………. 46
Figure 2: UAE Population Imbalance (National & Non National)…………………………66
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: NATO’s New Strategic Concept…………………………………………………. 46
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction to Chapter
The primary factor for the strong foreign relations present between UAE and the United States of America can be identified as the strategic geo-positioning of the region. The UAE is in an ideal location on the Arabian Gulf, where more than one quarter of the entire world’s oil is produced and shipped. The US foreign policy is highly dependent on energy requirements due to the high energy demand in their country. As one of the leading manufacturing countries in the world and a major player in the manufacturing and trade sector, the US is dependent on the high energy demand and supply chain to achieve its economic growth objectives. This is the reason why the US government has formed strong relations with the UAE, as a strategic future partnership (Rugh, 1996). This relationship would allow the United States of America access to abundant oil resources. The implications for both countries of these relations are however different in nature. For the U...