The UAE’s armed forces cooperate regularly with US counterparts on both training and operational missions to preserve security and stability in the Gulf. The United States and the UAE have established a “Defense Cooperation Framework” to develop joint approaches to regional conflicts and to promote UAE-US interoperability.
This partnership was further elevated in May 2025 when US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei signed a Letter of Intent establishing the foundation for a comprehensive US-UAE Major Defense Partnership. The Letter represents the two nations’ shared commitment to develop a structured roadmap that will guide enhanced defense cooperation, joint capability development and long-term defense alignment.
In May 2024, military personnel from both countries participated in the joint training exercise Native Fury, which aimed to strengthen strategic ties between the two militaries. The exercise featured a historic first: a long-range logistics convoy of more than 100 vehicles and 200 Marines, soldiers and partner troops traversing the Trans-Arabian Network from Saudi Arabia to the UAE. This groundbreaking operation demonstrated the ability to rapidly move forces across the Arabian Peninsula in support of regional security operations. Another UAE-US exercise called Iron Union takes place annually in the Abu Dhabi desert.
In October 2025, the UAE and US conducted their largest-ever joint training exercise, Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) 25-10, at Fort Polk, Louisiana, wherein the two nations’ forces trained side-by-side in realistic combat scenarios in an effort to improve interoperability. This unprecedented deployment represented the US’ largest-ever joint training event conducted with a US Central Command partner. A US defense official said: “Partnerships like this are critical to maintaining peace and security [...] JRTC 25-10 is a testament to our enduring alliance and shared vision for regional prosperity."
Also in 2025, the UAE joined the US National Guard State Partnership Program, through a partnership with the Texas National Guard, to bolster military modernization and enhance cooperation in air and missile defense, cybersecurity, disaster response and operational planning.
As part of an agreement between the UAE and the US, the UAE Presidential Guard Command undergoes training by the US Marine Corps for counterterrorism, counter-piracy, critical infrastructure protection and national defense.
The UAE Air Force operates nearly 80 of the world’s most technologically advanced F-16 aircraft — the Block 60. Called the “Desert Falcons” and manufactured by Lockheed Martin in Texas, these F-16s are specifically developed for the Arabian Gulf theater and designed to enhance interoperability with the US and other NATO allies. The UAE Air Force used the Desert Falcons to support the multinational operation to combat ISIS.
In order to enhance combat readiness and communication with allies, UAE Air Force F-16 pilots regularly participate in the annual “Red Flag” aerial combat exercise hosted by the US Air Force at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. Because this exercise is exceptionally challenging, pilots who participate in Red Flag must have superior training and skills. To prepare for Red Flag and combat missions, UAE Air Force pilots train regularly with their US counterparts at the Joint Warfare Center at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE.
The scale and sophistication of UAE-US joint training reflects a partnership built on decades of cooperation, shared values, and mutual commitment to regional stability. Through these exercises, both nations ensure their forces remain prepared to respond to evolving security challenges while strengthening the interoperability that makes them more effective together.
