UAE Signals Potential Entry into International Coalition: Anwar Gargash Calls for Securing Hormuz and Ending Iranian "Regional Terror"

Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, stated on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, that the UAE may join U.S.-led international efforts to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event, Gargash emphasized that maintaining the flow of global trade and energy is a "shared responsibility." He noted, however, that while discussions are ongoing, a formal agreement on the deployment plan has yet to be finalized.

Post-War Vision: Dismantling the Tools of Intimidation Gargash outlined a clear post-conflict vision, asserting that once the current U.S.-Israel-Iran war concludes, a robust agreement must be reached. This deal should prevent Iran from utilizing its nuclear, missile, or drone programs to "terrorize the region." These remarks highlight Abu Dhabi’s strategic goal of establishing a regional framework that eliminates existential threats to vital maritime corridors and Gulf national security.

The Choked Global Lifeline These diplomatic maneuvers come as commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz—which accounts for 20% of global oil supplies—has ground to a near-halt during the third week of the war. The Iranian blockade has sent global commodity prices soaring. In response, President Donald Trump is actively rallying an international "coalition of the willing" to deploy warships for tanker escorts, an effort the UAE is prepared to consider to protect its strategic and economic interests.