In March, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was awarded Ecuador’s highest honor during a visit filled with pomp and circumstance. More than a mere reaffirmation of bilateral friendship, the trip was focused on important negotiations and on finalizing a wide-ranging agreement on trade and investment. For the United Arab Emirates, it was another link in a massive economic and geopolitical chain now under construction.
If it seems a little surprising that the prince, next in line to lead the UAE, traveled all the way to a small South American country for a trade deal that is not very large in the context of the Emirati economy, it helps to view the event in its larger context: a region-wide Emirati campaign that has already resulted in large-scale deals with several South American nations.
The UAE is actively expanding its footprint in the region, asserting its economic reach as a middle power with global clout. In the process, it is bypassing the U.S. and engaging directly in “South-to-South” dealmaking.