The Trump administration is moving to establish a “Major Defense Partnership” with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signaling a significant deepening of military and defense ties between the two nations. The agreement could pave the way for joint weapons development and enhanced military cooperation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and UAE Defense Minister Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei signed a letter of intent on Friday in Abu Dhabi, laying out a roadmap for strengthened military-to-military collaboration, joint capability development, and long-term strategic alignment, the Pentagon announced Monday.
This type of designation is rare — previously only granted to India in 2016 — and is expected to bring expanded military exercises, security agreements, and preferential defense trade treatment for the UAE.
As part of the agreement, Secretary Hegseth also unveiled a new strategic initiative involving the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit and the UAE’s Tawazun Economic Council, which oversees the country’s defense and security acquisitions. The partnership will focus on joint research and development efforts and boost industrial and investment cooperation between the two countries.
The Tawazun Economic Council recently signed a term sheet with U.S. defense contractor Raytheon to begin producing Coyote counter-drone interceptors in the UAE.
Additionally, the UAE will join the U.S. National Guard State Partnership Program, pairing with the Texas National Guard. This collaboration aims to support the UAE’s military modernization in key areas such as integrated air and missile defense, cybersecurity, disaster response, and operational planning.
The announcement follows President Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East, including a stop in the UAE, where he reiterated his commitment to strengthening U.S.-UAE relations. During the trip, the U.S. announced deals with the Gulf nation worth over $200 billion, though defense-related agreements formed a smaller portion of that total.
“I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better,” Trump said during a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Notably absent from the discussions was any progress on a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to the UAE — a deal that was previously in motion but collapsed in 2021 over U.S. concerns regarding the Gulf country’s use of Chinese wireless technology.
However, the U.S. did approve a separate $1.4 billion sale of helicopters and F-16 fighter jet components to the UAE last week. Some Democratic lawmakers have voiced opposition to arms sales to the country due to its alleged support for the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan — a group accused by the U.S. of war crimes and ethnic cleansing.
