Rubio is seeking to reassure close US allies about the memorandum of understanding with Tehran, which fails to address some of the Gulf’s long-standing concerns about its missile program and proxies.
“They discussed President Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region,” his spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
Rubio also “thanked the UAE for their leadership and unparalleled support, praised their courage and resilience in the face of Iran’s attacks, and reaffirmed the US commitment to the security of the Emirates”, Pigott added.
The secretary of state arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening and held closed-door talks with Sheikh Mohamed the following day, then set off for Kuwait.
After that, he will travel on to Bahrain, where he will attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting on Thursday.
He insisted that no country is allowed to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz after Oman and Iran, which border the waterway, said they were considering charging “costs” for ships navigating the key conduit for Gulf oil and gas.
“It’s an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law,” he said as he arrived in the United Arab Emirates capital.
Double Down
Rubio’s trip is the first by a senior US official to the Middle East since the Iran agreement was signed last week.
The energy-rich Gulf, home to several American military bases, bore the brunt of Iran’s attacks in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that sparked the war on February 28.
The UAE was targeted by more than 2,800 missiles and drones — more than any other country in the region — while Kuwait and Bahrain were also badly hit relative to their small size.
During the war, the UAE doubled down on its alliance with the US and repeatedly said Iran’s missile program and proxies should be dealt with.
Regional leaders have long maintained close ties with President Donald Trump and have pledged to invest billions of dollars in the US economy.
But experts say that they have grown wary of an unreliable US partner that left them badly exposed during Iran’s attacks.
UAE Eyes India’s BrahMos, Akashteer to Boost Defenses
According to Reuters, citing sources, the UAE is in early talks with India to purchase the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akash air defense system.
“UAE has shown interest in a number of our weapon systems, including BrahMos and Akashteer. The talks between India and the UAE are at initial stages and are progressing fast,” Reuters quoted an Indian defense source as saying.
Notably, both systems have been combat-tested and reportedly performed remarkably well during the four-day war with Pakistan in May 2025.
While BrahMos was behind the attack on multiple Pakistani air bases, successfully penetrating Pakistan’s air defense systems, Akashteer reportedly thwarted Pakistan’s drone swarm attacks on Indian military facilities.
BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, is among the world’s fastest cruise missiles and can be launched from land, sea, and air platforms, while Akashteer is a fully automated air defense system developed by India’s state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd and the Indian Army.
While India would need Russia’s approval before selling BrahMos to the UAE, no such prior approval is required for the sale of Akashteer, since it is fully indigenous.
Notably, BrahMos is already a hit in the defense export market. BrahMos has been exported to the Philippines, and New Delhi has signed deals to sell BrahMos to Vietnam and Indonesia. Further, it has also received interest from Thailand, South Africa, Brazil, and Chile.
However, if the deal with the UAE is finalized, this would be the first-ever export order for the Akashteer air defense system.
With AFP Inputs
