storms in cuba to a minimum and the government will be keen to avoid significant material damage. it simply cannot afford to replace it. augustin, al jazeera, havana firefighters from across canada have been called in to help tackle wildfires in british columbia. nearly 200 blazes are raging across the province. it's still feeling the effects of last week's record breaking heat wave. local media report 2 thirds of the 5 not yet under control. some areas have ordered people to evacuate. ah, that's bring you up to speed with some of the headlines here now to sierra. now the afghan air force says it's kill $260.00 on top of on fights is and is preparing accounts are offensive to retake areas that have been captured. the us withdrawal is more than 90 percent complete. lebanon's can't take a prime minister,

his warning, his country is days away from what he calls his social explosion. house and the app is appealing for international help to resolve the economic crisis for coming world health organization as warning governments against easing cove at 19 restrictions to soon several countries in europe are relaxing rules, despite concerns about the highly contagious delta vary and all of the countries of the america, we still have nearly 1000000 cases. week 1000000 a week hooked up. it is an over am and the same in europe, in europe, in region. we've half a 1000000 cases week like this thing has gone away. so i sometimes have the sense that everyone thinks it's all over and we're just getting on. and to an extent, i understand the sentiment, understand why people want to feel that way. but for a lot of the world, unfortunately this thing is only getting started. we just need to be

a little more patient. remember last summer where we had everything got good and then everyone kind of relaxed. and then we kind of arrived in september or october and ended up in huge trouble. what i think that's where we're going again with a much more transmissible variant. this time around the u. k. has reported its highest number of new daily current virus cases since january almost 29000 infections being blamed on the fos spreading. delta variant and in russia recalled 737 people died of code 19 in the past day. a virtual court hearing is wrapped up in south africa where former president, jacob's humor is fighting against the prison sentence, a judgment, whether or not he'll be arrested will be delivered on friday. soon has been ordered to spend 15 months in jail for failing to appear as a corruption inquiry. 150 young students have been kidnapped from a school in northwest the nigeria.

although they headlines it's inside story now stay with us. news news. news. they were close allies until recently, saudi arabia and the u. e are now in the world and a bitter exist you from oil to politics, the food, both nations are on conflicting hot. what's behind the break down and what impact will that have on the region? this isn't type story. ah, ah,

hello and welcome to the program. i'm jody navigate the saudi arabia and the united arab emirates have been working side by side for many years. they've been close allies on everything from military to economic matters. but a recent dispute at an opec plus meeting has illustrated growing strains between the 2 gulf nations. the morocco governments rejected as saudi la deal, which includes extending an existing cap on oil outputs and increasing production in the coming months. the u. e. block the agreements call and get unfair and demanding an increase in its own production. but saudi arabia's oil minister has promptly rejected that request. oil producing nations have been trying to stabilize the global market as it slowly recovers in the worst periods of the pandemic. they cut out put last year in an effort to increase falling prices. the saudi energy minister called for compromise and rationality and what was seen as a pushback against the u. e. z refusal prince. i believe he's been sell. mine also

said we're looking for a way to balance the interests of producer on consumer countries on for market stability. in general, especially when shortages are expected due to the decrease in stockpiles or saudi arabia and the u. e. have deferred on a number of issues in recent months. the emerging government has downsize, its military presence in the saudi, like holy shit and fighting, who is in yemen, while saudi arabia has taken the lead. and the blockade of cats are despite some reluctance from the u. a e, it also did not join the u. e and some other arab nations and signing a piece deal with israel. saudi arabia as amended rules on imports from other gulf countries that would affect goods made in so called free zones, including those by israel. and it's also threatened to cut off multinational from contracts if they don't relocate to the kingdom. and more recently, the saudi government has been travel to and from the u. a. e. sites in corona virus concerns the, let's not bring in our guest,

joining us from rhea as often as either of us yon, who's a researcher and fellow for the secretary and isn't proxies and the secretary and ization projects and london. andrea is craig, who is an assistant professor at kings college london and call through surrogate warfare the transformation of war and the 21st century. joining us from kuwait city is better to say who the non resident fellow at the carnegie middle east center. thanks for joining us on insight story. welcome to you all. but it is safe to begin with you. how would you describe relations between the u. e and saudi arabia as they stand today? to pleasure to be with me today, the relations i've always gone through. you know, and i've been slow, the relationship has been climaxes moments in which their interests align. and other times they have diverged very proper the few days is not a surprise in terms of their interest diverting repeated beverage in the i'm and in

the past we've seen the diapers in terms of iraq with other than the gulf and so on . this is a part of the long series of events that speak to a dynamic relationship. when that has its ups and down. ok, true, they have diverged that and we'll get into the specific differences in a moment. but traditionally, at least about it, there are differences weren't so publicly discussed. so how rare is this public disagreement over the issue of oil output of the opec plus meeting this public saying, i would say, speaks to the you a self perception of a self is arising power in the region. and it's not only went ahead with its position and didn't feel the need to even lobby other opec producers to present or engage in the position. and that although i said, let me tell you, there is common interest from both parties that ensure that they maintain

a united front at least publicly and in terms of political issues. the divergence is whether we see the non b cannot mix, will tend to increase in the future as the competition in the post and they go through the new phase with them scrambling for more awkward production. andrea credit can you away and i mean was divergence here, inevitable given there are differing views and roles recently. well, i agree with bothered, i mean, if you look, if you look at the period of, you know, you a saudi relations of a last 50 years. certainly there were absent flows, but the question is, what's the reference point that we compare this to this current, this current escalation that we compared to? i mean, if the reference point is the very historic announcement in 2017 of the strategic alliance between the u. a in saudi arabia, then certainly we are at a low point at the moment, but there is something to be said here about diverges of interest. i think what is quite clear is that the problem and this time around which makes it very different from other ebbs and flows that we've seen in that relationship is the fact that,

you know, the united arab emirates no longer see themselves as a vessel state of saudi arabia or state that, you know, it's somewhat existing in the shadows of saudi arabia, but it is one that has won a lot of confidence. and over the last 4 or 5 years, we've seen that particular during the trump era. we've seen them around becoming increasingly assertive and assertion as being a 3rd means doing whatever they think is right in their own national interest. and that sometimes is, will comes at the expense of saudi arabia and that's not just in the, in the oil domain. we've seen that in yemen. we've seen that when it came to normalization with israel. and we've seen a lot of that pressures going on in the, in the ongoing, at the time on going gulf crisis where the moratti's were not willing to use to saudi efforts to kind of trying to reconcile with casa. so over that, over that period we've seen the, the mirage is becoming increasingly sort of seeing everything through the lens over 0 so mentality. and i think that is something that the saudis of now realize, and it's kind of putting quite a lot of burden on that relationship. but hang on a 2nd address. let's dig in specifically on the opec issue. the us is energy

minister said this that the u. s u has sacrificed the most and we can't make a new agreement under the same conditions. we have a sovereign right to negotiate that. so does he have a point when he says that we have a sovereign right in this? absolutely, i mean that the problem here, again, the reference point of all these agreements is to put levels from 12018. so it's quite clear again, that the royalties, you know, having increased the potential output or the action that was that they can, that they have a right to renegotiate. and the question is, how do they negotiate? and i think that has changed and all these have become they used to be under ships . i've been kind of recording, trying to find common ground from to be diplomatic and compromising, bring brick matic. and i think being assertive now means they playing everything in a 0 sum fashion, which means you know, negotiations are hard and they're being forward in the public domain, which is something that the morality is know how to dominate. they know how to use information environment to kind of play in their favor. ok. i didn't, i didn't know she on saudi arabia as energy minister called on quote,

compromise and rationality, or from the you a, i mean, do you think that either side is willing to back down when it comes specifically to the opec issue opec plus issue? well, firstly, good day to you and good day to your guests and all your years. i think in the spirit of divergence, i won't. my analysis in my thoughts won't diverge very much from what they seem to guess over. ready said indeed, you know, i would like to mimic or reinforce this notion of leadership and projection. and there are some fashion in sovereignty. but, and that kind of leads very well to answering your question. because i don't see side to ravia or that the saudi oil minister to try to negotiate or, or concede anything. because now it seems to be a stand off. it doesn't have to be this way. and as under a said, you know, it, it is a, there are some fashion, it, it seems to be

a perception to 0 some fashion or are common. it's a common perception in the goals. it doesn't have to be this way, but that's how some states you think. so i, it will be very interesting to see who will try to concede 1st. so i don't see our very best standing down because this is more of a projection of power. and also dr. joseph said earlier, you know, it is also part of this. you were the projection of leadership of this new region projection of leadership and region and to be more assertive. so what's very interesting here is that the next decisions regarding the oil output, etc. it is actually something about how they identify themselves and how in particularly how the way you will identify it. so if it i don't to point to so as a, as this new regional trying or at aspiring to be this regional heavy weight,

then if it's going to receive some regarding to which i didn't see that i cannot, no longer claim that it is this up and coming heavy weight. and so it will be very interesting to see how they both frame discursive, lee, what the next decisions will be. i know that you have also said these, that this specific spots, if we may call it that is economically driven. because both countries have economic modems, but these are 2 countries that have built up a reservoir, a strategic alignment. so why is economic competition intensifying among them now? well, this is a good question and i think one has to look at this in the broad scheme of things. so the, i mean, i mentioned it, it is quite important to understand that this isn't just not an economic issue.

this is an issue of where a position now let the where are both positioning themselves in this very contingent region now and in particularly b u a. so where are you trying to, to find itself in this region. so it's not simply just an economic issue. and i was what the previous guess, rightfully mentioned it's policies in the us and in yemen, it's normalization with israel. and it's attempt to get others to normalize with israel. that's also very important. so, you know, this is, this speaks to the competition that the united air of america is trying to of course, compete in, but also trying to come out with better outcomes not just economically, but do you strategically as well. ok, let's look at some of the other issues in a little bit more detail. andrea craig,

earlier this week, saudi arabia suspended all fly from the u. e, as i'm sure you're aware. now the official line coming out of saudi arabia was the suspension was due to the current, a virus pandemic in the and the spread of the new strain. but the timing of it is quite interesting because that happened just hours after the u. e blocked the saudi deal to ease oil cuts. i mean, what do you make of the timing of that? is there something behind it, and what's your response? the official line coming out of saudi arabia on that? well, i think it, it, you know, there is a why did use strategic context for this. but, you know, let's not, let's, let's stay in the economic domain for a moment. i mean, this is all part of, you know, saudi arabia trying to digress fi as well. and this whole kind of policy to diversification for saudi arabia is, is one that cannot come in form of compromise with, with the weight when it comes to relocating and headquarters, for example, when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment. you know, the saudi arabian needs to leads to compete quite harshly with the marines,

and that, that is what's going on. and obviously the saudi arabia also now that they wanted to launch a new airline. so they're trying to reassert itself as, as, as a potential competitor to couple ways and emeralds that might play into that as well. and then obviously on top of that, we've got that opec that, oh, pick an element to it. and then forget, there is an issue with a pandemic and the way that the cameras have have pushed in and fighting the panoramic, which is about opening up very, very early on collaborating with china on, on the vaccine and using the vaccine quite widely within the u. a and obviously the vaccine hasn't been that effective, and there is a good point to be made to say, let's limit the influx of em, rockies or people coming from the embers into the kingdom. because there is an issue here with the delta very, that's very widely spread in the u a. and also if you look at the u. k. approach, again, same thing. you a seen as a reckless the country because of their high infection, right? and the delta very being widely spread, and the vaccination program being not as efficient. so, you know,

this is not just political. i mean, there are some very, very important underlying issues here when it comes to fighting the pandemic. okay . and better than say, another issue and sticking with the economy here is that saudi arabia has also recently amended rules on imports from other goals. countries that would affect goods made and so called free zones. as you know of free zones are a major driver of device economy. what do you make of that move or good leg like i would say that there are a host of reasons behind such a move and it's not reactive. trying to think in relation to the look there, they're competing in region in which the economy rain king and they need to prove themselves and the oil they will. and that all types of tools you need not be any of the other updates that matter to ensure that they can try such a scenario. hence, bringing in a limitation on free trade zones,

really speaks about the elements you need to have some kind of a protection. and in terms of having a preferential treatment for ccc, countries with those imports, the task force, obviously a free trade zone. and if you go into detail, you look at then tapping it's a 25 percent local work. so it goes lower than that, then it will be considered local, kind of, you know. so i think that serves a wider narrative. and that serves a backdrop in which they need to realize that they are working towards the same goal. now, do you really might be, you know, miles behind in terms of where you e and up to that level is in terms of economic advertiser. and you know, a diversification, but they do buy model if you want to call it that is not meant to drive on its own . i mean, it's expected to see competition. and so that's how the move is just one among many

that we're going to see moving forward. and it does not really undercut bit political pretty the relationship that they handled throughout. and if you allow me, i want to comment as well on where we stand in terms of the u. e. today with, with the whole opec path and what would come after it. i think regardless of what happens, whether they reach a compromise or not, or they buy or the u. e goes on with its own production. i think the way has, you know, made a mark. and it has one tool by putting out that position. the owner is gonna be ravia to reassert this perceived leadership in the region in the goal. and to show that this is not going to pass through because the precedence. because if you allow for things to go ahead and needed an economic spirit, then that means that more lots of coordination will take on and it's not going to be beneficial. so let's look at some of the political issues that these i'll bring

you in here. let's take a look at m and for us because we know that the 2 countries of course, intervene side by side to oppose these. but then they diverged and started opposing sides, different sides in the south of the country. how much there are differences in yemen contribute to this situation, but they find themselves in today? well, i think it, you know, this speaks to the, the fact that we shouldn't be surprised about this, this, this current disagreement or impasse right now. because if we look at the many sphere, because see the divergence happening there for actually years. so what i think that sphere and other spheres have shown is not just the, the, the lack of compatibility but, but the limits in which the saudi, you a relationship kind of flourish, that there are limitations to this, that you know, that there is, this partnership is not it's, you know, they're,

it's not completely serving the domestic agenda are both agenda as a respective agenda, the saudi arabia and the u. e. so i do think that the many here is one out of many . so it's the other aspect. and i think the, the, the colleague vendors and better follow the gcc for more than i do the gcs politics . but i, i particularly focus on saudi foreign policy towards israel. and so what i've seen from the abraham, of course, is that that was the point that made me very convinced that this is the limit between the saudi. you a partnership that here is a, a set crossing the ruby can. that actually fundamentally undermine did the, the piece initiative, which is the saudi piece initiative, which is based on the therapies initiative. moreover, you know,

it kind of pushed for or didn't obstruct the, the u. s. pressure to make so israeli flights fly over saudi airspace. so we're starting to see and limits, and that's one angle to look at the limit to this range. and so that's why i think, what, but the said to carry on from that is that, you know, this, it's best to overcome this, looking at it in the gcc perspective and that, you know, all have to pool their, their sources and all have to look at their goals, not in a 0 some fashion as under i said, look at it as a, as a win win fashion. right? that's going to take a lot of time. ok, now that you mention the abraham accords and raise craig, to what extent the signing of those abram accords between the u. e in israel contribute to this friction because some people in saudi arabia raise their eyebrows when this deal to place with it all goes to the same,

same issue. i think we didn't really mention the relationship in washington relationship to washington in this respect that i think it's very important to bear in mind that saudi arabian d u. a competing for the same space in washington for both sides of the political aisle and with trump gone. and trump, someone giving a leslie fair approach to middle east policy in a u. s. e in saudi would get away with a lot of things and they knew with when buying came in, they knew this was going to change and they would have to make amends. they would have to change their position that posture as well. and we see in that respect both of them are competing and is there some fashion for the kind of support from, from the us president. and i think we've seen from, from that side of things we've seen them are all just trying to distance themselves from the saudis, and vice versa. and the element of america in this is very important because the, the records were away for the mirage to buy credit in washington and somewhat. the saudi saw this as buying credit at their expense because there was a lot of pressure, a lot of leverage being put upon the saudis and

n b as to kind of normalize. and that was not just by coaching, but many of the saudis many in the, in a circle around me as well. so looking at this as a way of the moratti's putting pressure on cushing and saying, look, we can do it, maybe the saudis can. and there was pressure that was put in saudi arabia. that was at a level where the saudis couldn't actually make concession. it was too costly and you seem postcards award probably wasn't the right decision not to go forward with normalization. but that was a very, very important element of competing and that information space as well how, you know, looking good in eyes of washington. and it seems like you have tried also in the emma to dissociate themselves from saudi arabia, kind of leaving saudi to kind of bad political and reputational burden of that conflict and leaving the morality with that freedom to maneuver without actually incurring that many costs. well, yeah, go on, complete the fault. no, i mean the same is true for israel in israel morales. we had no consideration for their so called strategic ally and just went forward without trying to find

a common position. ok, but then safe. what about the, on the agreement which ended the, the cuts are blockade. i mean, how did that agreements play a role in all of this? the, that's where we're doing. we're bring up the pre functions that you might have seen the apprehend records and the way in which they could be favor with the both sides of the island. the us as well as reasons for national patrick under initiative has been on the, on the table for quite some time according as mentioned. so go to the other type agreements, is a saudi i mean it was affiliated by creating the us, but it was a saudi approach to ensure that they also show that benevolence side of them being based men like that. they can overcome differences that they can re unite the

goal together. but, you know, with striking, if you compare what's happening with and the gcc ad, the current you saw the conflict or this view is that there is a commonality in which there isn't that much regard for governance structures. we have a very clear charter that has a dispute resolution close in the gc was not here to local. and the problem happen then when the resolution place, i guess why also there is the saudi mit coordination council that's been out there since 2017. you would think that these issues will be resolved behind those different mechanisms and ok, let me just bring it out there as the because i know you wanted to jump in. the last word is for you and tell me how you think this is all going to play out. i'm going to escalate or will they learn to live with these differences? well, one thing that i really want to say was that this 0 sum perception and this,

there are some logic that's taken place is not just constrained within the gtc, but it's actually part of a, a middle east phenomenon that's taken place. so that's one thing that i was really itching to say. now in regards to how i see this playing out, it's important to think about framing and how in which frame should we look at this . so if we're going to look at this in a frame of and targeted them or conflict to understand the saudi you, we relations currently. i think this will very much overlook the quantities that saudi you, we have, and i think that will be very, it will be very inaccurate. i think if we look at this, that's in a way of competition, that this is actually part of relations and part of this kind of the normal residue of competition. and it could be strong competition then that could encompass other areas where they could actually cooperate and acknowledge where they could actually

agree because they do want to mentally agree on many things. this is now starting to see an intensification of the competition on the competition of identity, but also in competition or political and economic issues to all right on that. now we'll have to leave it there. thank you so much from, i guess i've been as ease and shawn andrews. craig embedded safe, we thank you for joining us. and thanks for watching you can see the program again . anytime by visiting our website, al jazeera dot com for the discussion, you can go to our facebook page, facebook dot com, forward slash ha inside story, and join the conversation on twitter or handle as a james, i story myself and the whole thing right here in delphi thanks for watching bye. for now. the news me

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