Port Nonsense

[Cyclefrance]

From today's shipping news email:

No way to treat a friend: UAE about US
----------------
INITIAL reaction from the United Arab Emirates to the collapse of part of the DP World/P&O deal leaves observers in no doubt that relations with the US have soured. In a strongly-worded opinion piece in today's edition of Gulf News, Dr Abdul Khaleq Abdullah, professor of political science at UAE University in Al Ain, comments: "No one should pretend it's business as usual, at least not here in the United Arab Emirates." He says the UAE's until now pro-American business community has been insulted and it should come as no surprise if there was a response. Similarly the people and government of the UAE are unlikely to forget the way the US Congress questioned Dubai's trustworthiness. "People in America will forever remember 9/11. They will always make connection between 9/11 and the UAE ... Was this a tit-for-tat? Are we even now? One thing is certain," he adds, "the two countries are now further apart." The academic concludes: "The US-UAE relationship is not at its peak. Government, businessmen and the public at large in the UAE are bitter. The ports controversy has left a huge dent in the usually friendly relationship between the countries. This time around it is up to Washington to compensate the UAE and it is for the good-hearted Americans to make it up with the generous people of the UAE."
Lloyd's Register - Fairplay web links