UAE eyes role as hub for Western air fleets in war zones
ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates has agreed to host an expanding
Western military air fleet that includes NATO and other air operations in the Gulf
and Afghanistan.
The Gulf state has provided services
for virtually all of the major participants in the NATO stabilization campaign
in Afghanistan.
"The UAE sees this as part of its effort to become integrated in a
Western security regime in the Gulf," a regional diplomat said.
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The diplomat said the UAE has facilitated the expansion of a Western
military air presence over the last two years. He cited operations by
Australia, Britain, France and the United States.
Many of the Western air operations have stemmed from the UAE Air Force
at Al Minhad. Al Minhad has been used as a hub for the transport
of military equipment by U.S. allies from Iraq to Afghanistan.
In 2009, France won UAE agreement to expand the European state's
military presence in the Gulf. For its part, Australia has been operating
three C-130J air transports at Al Minhad.
The United States was said to have the largest military air presence in
the UAE. The U.S. Air Force has been overseeing the modernization of the UAE
Air Force as well as training of the advanced F-16 Block 60 multi-role
fighter.
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