A leading Emirati business figure has issued a forceful rejection of American calls for Gulf Cooperation Council states to join military operations, signaling potential shifts in regional security relationships that have anchored Western defense posture in the Middle East for decades.
Khalaf Al Habtoor, chairman of the Al Habtoor Group and one of the UAE's most prominent businessmen, published a lengthy statement on social media responding to comments by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who called on GCC countries to enter the conflict following Iranian attacks on the region.
"We will not enter this war to serve the interests of others, nor will we sacrifice our sons in a conflict that could have been avoided through diplomacy and political solutions," Al Habtoor wrote. "We value the lives of our sons, and we do not treat their souls as 'collateral damage' as some do."
The statement marks a rare public challenge to American security policy from within the Gulf business elite, which has traditionally maintained close economic and defense ties with Washington. Al Habtoor's conglomerate spans hospitality, automotive, real estate, and publishing sectors across the region.
His comments came after Graham suggested Gulf states should join U.S. military operations, noting they are "also under attack" from Iranian drones and missiles. The South Carolina senator framed military cooperation as part of the alliance relationship between Washington and Gulf capitals.
