Thread by @markfny

Here is another escalation point that I have been pointing out since 2017.
reuters.com/world/saudi-co…

There is also a big political divide between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has steadily grown as the UAE withdrew from Yemen- officially ending their direct involvement in Feb 2020. Pressure was mounting between the two allies as they differed in opinion on how to proceed.

Both countries had direct involvement, but also relied extensively on proxies within Yemen- but their paths began to diverge. UAE wanted to cut involvement and their proxies were willing to make a deal/ceasefire with the Houthis in the region.

KSA and their proxies broadly refused and altercations ensued between both entities in Yemen and behind close doors behind the GCC members. The UAE decided to accelerate their withdrawal of personnel and equipment from Yemen as well as ending monetary...

& air support for the civil war. This left KSA alone (and bitter) about having to carry out support mostly alone (UAE still supports to some capacity). The political issues have continued to mount on the Yemen front, but both have been moving in a positive direction with Israel.

The UAE was the first to cross the line signing a peace agreement in Sept 2020, while KSA has so far avoided any “official” ties to Israel. Israel has been effective in putting pressure on the “Shia Crescent” and hitting Iranian proxies at every turn.

The complexity of the UAE and KSA relationship has only grown as their goals have diverged.