UAE Leverages BRICS Membership and $1.5T Assets to Expand Middle Power Influence

The United Arab Emirates has transitioned into a "middle power" role, utilizing strategic non-alignment and economic partnerships to influence global governance. This shift follows the nation’s formal entry into the BRICS+ bloc on January 1, 2024, and the expansion of its diplomatic mediation efforts across Eastern Europe and Africa. Economic Diplomacy and Trade Alliances Central to this geopolitical strategy is the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) program. The UAE has signed or finalized trade pacts with major economies including India, Indonesia, and Turkey, aiming to increase non-oil foreign trade to AED 4 trillion by 2031. These agreements remove or reduce tariffs on over 90% of goods, facilitating a pivot toward Asian and African markets. The nation’s financial leverage is supported by sovereign wealth assets exceeding $1.5 trillion, managed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Mubadala, and ADQ. These funds are increasingly deployed in strategic sectors abroad, including renewable energy in Central Asia and infrastructure in the Horn of Africa, providing the UAE with significant bargaining power in international forums. Mediation and Strategic…