How The Saudi-UAE Bromance Soured (S01E04)

February 16, 2026, ParisJust a few years ago Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were not just partners but allies. That has pretty much ended. The two just fought a proxy war over control of South Yemen, with Riyadh coming out on top.Cinzia Bianco, fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and an analyst at Gulf State Analytics, joins me to discuss the Saudi-UAE dustup, what it means for the US and Europe. We also discuss the Gulf’s view on the impending war between the US and Iran, and the ongoing crises in Gaza and Sudan. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe