ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Russia offered weapons ranging from Kalashnikov assault rifles to missile systems for sale at a biannual arms fair in the United Arab Emirates on Monday – despite sanctions from the West over its war against Ukraine.
The event, known as the International Defense Exhibition and Conference, taking place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, underscores how the Gulf Arab Federation has sought to embrace Moscow while balancing its ties with the West.
As Russia’s war against Ukraine approaches its first anniversary on Friday, Russian money continues to flow into Dubai’s red-hot real estate market.
Daily flights between the Emirates and Moscow continue as the war rages on, offering a rare lifeline to both those fleeing conscription and the Russian elite. The US Treasury Department has previously raised concerns about the amount of Russian cash flowing into the Arabian Peninsula country.
The arms fair typically sees the Emiratis hosts, which could be seen as problematic in the West. Former Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir joined the 2017 edition. Both 2019 and 2021 joined Chechen regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is now deeply involved in the Ukraine war himself.
This year’s event attracted Libya’s Khalifa Hifter, the commander of Libya’s self-proclaimed national army, who is facing a US lawsuit accusing him of organizing indiscriminate attacks on civilians and of torturing and killing political opponents.
But even if this was not directly acknowledged at this year’s fair, the tendrils of the Russian war against Ukraine could be seen everywhere on the Monday of the fair.
To reach the exhibition tent of Russia, visitors to the exhibition had to exit Abu Dhabi’s cavernous National Exhibition Center and cross a skybridge to an outdoor area.
Russian officials stopped Associated Press journalists from entering their tent while an event was taking place, initially without explanation. About an hour later, AP journalists saw Denis Manturov, Russia’s Minister of Trade and Industry, emerge from the tent.
Manturov is sanctioned by both the United States and the United Kingdom, with London describing him as “responsible for overseeing Russia’s arms industry and for equipping mobilized troops” in the war against Ukraine.
Inside, a video screen proclaimed the power of Russian surface-to-air missile systems now being used to attack cities in Ukraine. Vendors demonstrated Kalashnikov assault rifles to Emirati troops. Other model rockets were on display.
Right in front of the tent, Russian Helicopters displayed several of its civilian aircraft, flanked by attractive young women in silver flight hats.
UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was not seen at the opening, which was attended by his brother, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. However, a Russian magazine at the arms fair printed an English edition with photos of Sheikh Mohammed smiling and shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a previous visit to Moscow.
On the other hand, a huge armed Baykar drone was parked next to the Russian tent. Bayraktar drones from the Turkish drone company played such an important role in the Kiev campaign against Russia that there is even a song in Ukrainian about the plane.
Just a short walk away, US Army troops displayed a model Javelin anti-tank missile, allowing the curious to launch it in a computer simulation.
1st Sgt. of the US Army Evan Williams from the 2nd-116th Cavalry Regiment said he and his soldiers spoke to Russian visitors and others who were curious at the fair about the weapon that Ukraine had used to deadly effect against Russian armored vehicles.
“You saw people walk by and look at it twice,” said Williams of Boise, Idaho. “They come to us, talk to us, ask us questions about it.”
The US Army also had a Patriot missile battery on display at the show. American forces used the battery in combat for the first time in decades in 2022 to defend Abu Dhabi from an attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Meanwhile, Israel had also issued its first full contingent of arms companies, for the first time since the UAE recognized the country diplomatically in 2020. Both Israel and the UAE leadership harbor a deep distrust of Iran’s intentions, although the UAE has attempted to de-escalate with Tehran, which is now closer than ever to enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels.
Israeli-Emirati relations have warmed even as Israel continues to build settlements on land the Palestinians want for their future state and as Israeli-Palestinian violence mounts.
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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
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