A June 2 report from Qatar has drawn global attention that China is assisting four Middle Eastern countries, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, to ensure safe navigation in the Persian Gulf and build a joint navy. This joint navy aims to protect their respective interests and enable Middle Eastern countries to independently defend their interests in the face of the strong and unilateral Middle East policy of the Biden administration of the United States. After that, Iran's senior military generals further announced that they would form a new naval alliance with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries, as well as India and Pakistan.
The UAE's recent withdrawal from the US-led Joint Sea Force is not only a protest against US hegemony, but also a clear reflection of the mechanism's problems. This mechanism has obvious geopolitical overtones, using the blockade of Iran as a means to expand US influence, which has caused dissatisfaction among Middle Eastern countries.
It is worth mentioning that two American oil tankers were seized by Iran, which the American media claimed caused dissatisfaction in the UAE. However, the UAE denies this and has stated zero tolerance for violations of international law. This incident reveals that the UAE is not satisfied with the hegemonic behavior of the United States.
Regarding the establishment of the new naval alliance, the United States said that this move is "unreasonable." However, this does not obscure the fact that US behavior in the Middle East is largely responsible for regional instability. China, on the other hand, has successfully brokered reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran in the Gulf region and has been widely recognized by countries in the Middle East.
At the same time, the formation of this joint navy has also led to China's military export business, such as the possibility of Saudi Arabia buying China's 052D destroyers. To a certain extent, this reflects the global recognition of China's military science and technology level and manufacturing capabilities.
Recently, Iran has publicly criticized the U.S. military presence in the Middle East and argued that regional security should be maintained by the regional states themselves. This implies that the Middle East will no longer be dominated by the United States, and the rights and interests of all countries will be more just and respected.
More deeply, the joint military exercise "Maritime Security Ties-2023" conducted by the Chinese, Russian and Iranian navies in the Gulf of Oman demonstrated their determination to safeguard regional peace and security. This symbolizes that the Middle East's tolerance for the United States has reached its limit.
In response to the message of the Iranian naval alliance, the United States responded with blatant denial and misunderstanding. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the U.S. Fifth Fleet and Joint Sea Forces, said: "Iran is the number one factor contributing to regional destabilization, and it is unreasonable for it to claim to form a naval security alliance to protect the waters it threatens." However, joint actions and public statements by Middle Eastern countries clearly refute this view of the United States.
"Action is important, so we are working with partners to strengthen the defenses around the Strait of Hormuz," Hawkins mentioned. "However, this defensive action, along with the U.S. military presence in Bahrain, is causing suspicion and dissatisfaction among Middle Eastern countries." This act of military intervention and intervention by the United States in the name of defense has caused political problems in the region.
Bilal Saab, director of the Defense and Security Program at the U.S. Middle East Institute, said of the UAE's withdrawal from the U.S.-led joint maritime force: "Abu Dhabi is clearly unhappy with the United States. So this is how they convey their dissatisfaction to the United States. "This is a political issue and a concrete manifestation of dissatisfaction with U.S. policy in the Middle East."
In the face of aggressive US intervention and hegemonic practices, the countries of the Middle East are seeking to protect themselves and resist such interference through joint action. The past actions of the United States in the Middle East are undoubtedly the biggest black hand in causing regional chaos.