U.S. Senator: Netanyahu is Amazed and Happy with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham used a press appearance in Tel Aviv to underscore the strategic significance of Israel’s expanding partnership with the United Arab Emirates.

Graham described the visit as “a special trip,” linking it to diplomatic efforts he said he had pursued for “over two years.”

Addressing journalists, he relayed a message he attributed to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that the Israeli prime minister was “amazed by the level of corporation, and the significance of the partnership of the United Arab Emirates with Israel.”

“Stalwart Partner During Difficulty”

Graham singled out UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, known as MBZ, for praise. He said MBZ “has done everything asked, and then some,” describing the UAE as “a stalwart, reliable partner, under difficult circumstances.”

The language pointed to sustained cooperation despite ongoing regional tensions, including the Gaza conflict.

The senator added that he would travel “tomorrow” to the UAE to “acknowledge MBZ’s leadership.”

He further stated his intention to “suggest that America improve his capability to defend the United Arab Emirates in the region,” signaling support for enhanced US defense cooperation.

Security And Defense Signaling

While Graham did not specify particular systems or programs, his remarks implied continued US engagement in Gulf security frameworks. The UAE hosts US military assets and remains a key partner in regional air and missile defense initiatives.

Calls to “improve” defense capabilities often reference integrated deterrence measures, advanced surveillance systems, and missile defense cooperation.

Abraham Accords Context

The senator’s comments situate Israel-UAE relations within the diplomatic architecture created by the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and some Arab states. Accordingly, Graham’s remarks suggested that UAE’s cooperation had exceeded initial expectations, though he did not elaborate on specific initiatives.

The Israel-UAE partnership also reflects an ongoing debate within the region over normalization and its political costs.

While Graham credited UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) for being a “stalwart partner” who has done even more that aksed, critics across parts of the Arab and Muslim world continue to view the Abraham Accords framework with skepticism. Some activists and commentators argue that closer ties with Israel risk alienating segments of public opinion, particularly amid the Gaza Genocide.

Analysts note deepening security and economic cooperation with Israel has complicated UAE’s positioning within broader Muslim-majority constituencies as alignment with Israel during the ongoing genocide in Gaza generates reputational and diplomatic friction.

Emirati officials have consistently defended normalization amid unresolved debates over public sentiment, Palestinian statehood, and intra-Muslim geopolitical alignments.

Graham’s public praise also cast the Israel-UAE relationship in unusually explicit political terms. By openly relaying Netanyahu’s message of satisfaction and commending MBZ’s role, the senator’s remarks shifted what has often been conducted through diplomatic channels into a more visible arena.

The exchange effectively signaled a clearer, more publicly articulated alignment between Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem, reducing the ambiguity that has sometimes surrounded the depth and scope of their cooperation since normalization.