Emirati Armed Forces train with U.S. and French Forces

The Emirates occupies a privileged position in the Persian Gulf and is a key US ally in the region. Between 3,500 and 5,000 U.S. military personnel are permanently stationed in the country, most of them at the large Al Dhafra air base, just over 30 kilometres from Abu Dhabi. From the Emirati territory, the Pentagon provides logistical and operational support to ground, air and naval forces deployed in the Middle East. It is also a theatre of great interest to France, whose air forces have just been involved in a multi-day tactical exercise with those of the UAE and the…