Duplicitous indispensable.

"The United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday said it was quitting OPEC, dealing a blow to the oil producers' group as an unprecedented energy crisis caused by the Iran war exposes discord among Gulf nations." "Once firm allies, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have developed a simmering rivalry, clashing on issues from oil policy and regional geopolitics to the race for foreign talent and capital." As a participant of the Abraham Accords, the UAE signed a peace agreement with Israel in August 2020. state.gov. Last week, the UAE asked Pakistan to repay a loan of $3.5 billion which had been advanced in 2019. "Behind the UAE's decision lies growing frustration in Abu Dhabi" over Pakistan's role as a neutral mediator between Iran and the US. Also, "Relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been strained, particularly over Yemen, where they back rival factions." "Saudi Arabia stepped in with $3 billion in fresh deposits and extended a $5 billion facility." TOI. Almost like using one credit card to pay the bill of another. On 17 September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), in which, "both countries have committed to treating any act of aggression against one as an act against both (known as collective security)." wikipedia. NATO has a similar clause. "Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an armed attack against one NATO member shall be considered an attack against them all." nato.int. In practice, however, treacherous European countries, while happily accepting the US safety umbrella for decades, have not supported the US in the Iran conflict. "United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer...reiterated that Britain will not be drawn into the ongoing Middle East conflict, asserting that 'this is not our war' and that joining it is 'not in our national interest'." TOI. Why was the attack on Iraq, based on lies about weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) (wikipedia), Britain's war and in Britain's 'national interest'? "It was a war in which the UK mission in Basra came 'close to failure' and which left Britain's military reputation and confidence 'damaged'." BBC. Then Prime Minister Tony Blair was a lawyer and Labour Party leader and had won a landslide victory in the general election of 2001. Keir Starmer is exactly the same. wikipedia. Starmer's stand has not pleased President Donald Trump and "internal US policy discussions explored options ranging from suspending Spain from Nato positions to reassessing support for Britain's claims over the Falklands Islands" as well as withdrawing from Nato. TOI. King Charles III has been sent to apply some soothing balm. In his address to the US Congress, the King said, "Our two countries have always found ways to come together." And, "As my prime minister said last month: 'Ours is an indispensable partnership'." CBS. Clearly, former Foreign Minister Lord Carrington was not the only one, there are a lot more "duplicitous bastards" (upi.com) in Britain even today. China is Pakistan's "iron brother" (ciis.org) so its SMDA with Saudi Arabia could also be an "indispensable partnership". And, equally duplicitous.