Republican Senator Lindsey Graham publicly urged Saudi Arabia’s leadership to scale back its escalating dispute with the United Arab Emirates during remarks at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, directly addressing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and cautioning that continued friction could embolden Iran. Speaking at the high-profile global security forum, Graham stated that Saudi Arabia should cease its feud and emphasized that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed was not aligned with Zionism, while arguing that the ongoing dispute risked strengthening Tehran’s position. His remarks were reported by Middle East Eye, which detailed the growing strain between the two Gulf powers. The outlet previously reported that the UAE had encouraged pro-Israel advocacy organizations, including the American Jewish Committee, which maintains an office in Abu Dhabi, to condemn Saudi Arabia over alleged antisemitism—an accusation Saudi commentators have firmly rejected. According to Middle East Eye, Dr. Ahmed Altuwaijri, a Saudi academic and former dean at King Saud University, described such claims as unfounded and misleading. The tensions are unfolding against the backdrop of the UAE’s normalization of relations with Israel under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, while Israel faces diplomatic isolation in several Arab capitals amid ongoing regional conflicts.
Yemen, Sudan, and Red Sea Security Add Complexity to Gulf Dispute
The strain between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi extends beyond diplomatic rhetoric, intersecting with diverging policies in Yemen and Sudan. In Yemen, Saudi Arabia has led efforts that counter UAE-backed local forces, reflecting differing strategic priorities. In Sudan, Riyadh—alongside regional partners—supports the Sudanese army, while the UAE has been linked to backing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, according to reporting cited by Middle East Eye. Both sides in the Sudan conflict have faced accusations of serious human rights violations, and the war’s outcome is widely viewed as pivotal for Red Sea security. Despite these tensions, diplomatic engagement has continued; Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended a Munich gathering alongside UAE diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash and Qatari spokesperson Majed al-Ansari, signaling ongoing dialogue. Graham, a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, framed his intervention within broader U.S. strategic interests, stressing the importance of maintaining a unified front in the region and warning that withdrawal from current commitments would represent a significant policy error.