Лоббирование интересов ОАЭ в США при администрации Д. Трампа

Abstract

This article looks at the ways and means of lobbying of the United Arab Emirates interests in the U.S. under D. Trump Presidency. Direct lobbying of the Administration, Congress and public opinion by PR- and GR- firms hired by the UAE is considered. Main cases of lobbying are related to issues of bilateral or foreign relations and economic cooperation. First, Abu Dhabi was concerned about the Bill that would have ended U.S. military assistance for the Saudi-led war in Yemen against Iran-backed rebels and arms sales to the UAE. Second, members of Congress deeply criticized Saudi-UAE coalition strikes that killed thousands of Yemeni civilians. Third, Emirates tried to lobby against interests of Iran and Qatar. And fourth, the UAE were deeply interested in American business investments and acquiring some assets in the United States. The research is based on FARA e-Files of lobbyists and reports of Department of Justice to Congress. Main ways of lobbying were based on influencing the Administration, lawmakers, Congressional staff, public opinion through media and think tanks. The lobbying was eased by the U.S. interests in stability Gulf region, countering Iran, fighting terrorism and willing to save the UAE as ally. It can't be recognized as a success the attempt to attract the United States to the side of the UAE in the conflict with Qatar, despite the fact that Abu Dhabi and Riyadh lobbied together. But Washington has decided that any action against Doha may be in the interests of Tehran. Another thing is that the preservation of defense cooperation between the UAE and the United States was due to the help of the American arms lobby. The author also concludes that there are no signs of the "Arab lobby" that operated in the late 1960s and early 1970s and had an agenda on the Israel-Palestine issue. It is necessary to recognize the exist-ence of a common lobby of Saudi Arabia & the UAE against Iranian interests and the willingness of Abu Dhabi to help Cairo in lobbying in the United States.