Social media posts by far-right British activist and influencer Tommy Robinson on conflicts in Yemen and Sudan closely align with the positions of the United Arab Emirates, highlighting growing ties between the UAE and the European far-right, including Nigel Farage’s Reform Party in the UK.
In an article published this week by Arab Digest, a long-standing source of expert insight and analysis on the Middle East and North Africa, FairSquare’s Research and Advocacy Manager Alex Carlen offers analysis on a series of posts by Robinson:
“At first glance, this may seem like a surprise change of focus for a far-right influencer who has not been known to have strong views on the politics of Yemen or Sudan. A closer look points to something more sinister – Robinson’s framing closely aligns with that offered by the United Arab Emirates, a key player in both Yemen and Sudan, and forms part of a growing far-right ecosystem amplifying its narratives in the UK.”
The article builds on FairSquare’s extensive research on the UAE’s soft power and foreign policy.
- Exporting Authoritarianism: a briefing paper examining how the UAE has used its oil and gas revenues to finance an interventionist and ruinous foreign policy, most notably in the Middle East and North Africa.
- Well of Fear: a briefing setting the UAE’s grim human rights crackdown in the context of the country’s social contract, which expects citizens to demonstrate absolute political quiescence in return for a share in the benefits of continued fossil fuel extraction.
- Easy Cities to Buy: a report detailing how the UK government enabled Saudi Arabia and the UAE to use the purchase of football clubs to build hubs of soft power in Newcastle and Manchester, respectively.
