Description
Since the aftermath of the Cold War Crisis, the notion of the ‘Third World’ has evolved into the concept of ‘Global South’ providing a platform for the developing and least-developed countries to assert their collective interests. Within this framework, the BRICS forum, an intergovernmental grouping formed in 2001, facilitated as the driving thrust for the voice of the Global South Nations. In this context, the Gulf Region marked the critical hub for global trade and goods, where ‘rentier economy’ persisted in shaping its economic structure. Focusing on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this paper explores how its 2024 accession to the BRICS forum, coupled with its ‘String of Ports’ strategy, redefines its leadership role within the Global South. By transforming maritime connectivity into a platform for South–South cooperation, strategic autonomy, and multipolar engagement, the UAE positions itself as a central actor in reshaping regional diplomacy.
Through a qualitative approach, this study analyses a case study from the Gulf and West Asian countries, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Oman that would test the hypothesis. Such cases would analyze UAE’s role in garnering support and challenges from these nations for its snowballing interests as a powerful bloc. Further, this paper will try to evaluate the ‘Cooperative Diplomacy’ as a conceptual framework.
Thus, this paper seeks to examine the UAE’s evolving maritime diplomacy through the lens of the BRICS forum, drawing attention to its ambition and challenges in the Gulf region.
Keywords: Third World, Global South, BRICS, Cooperative Diplomacy
