12 November 2023, Dubai

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a dinner conversation on Sunday, November 12, 2023, with the Honorable Stanley L. Brown, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and Mr. Mike Miller, Deputy Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The dinner, held at the Ritz Carlton DIFC, enabled some 50 U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council members across a broad range of industries to engage with U.S. government officials ahead of the Dubai Airshow, happening from November 13 – 17, 2023.

The discussion, held under Chatham House Rules, centered on U.S. release policy and priorities in the U.A.E. and the Gulf region and the current state of the U.S.-U.A.E. defense and security relationship. USG officials emphasized the importance of the U.S.-U.A.E. strategic relationship to regional stability, and the close alignment of the two countries on regional matters. Close U.S.-U.A.E. alignment on the Israel-Gaza conflict was also discussed. The officials outlined reforms on the current foreign military sales (FMS) process currently in the works, as directed by the Department of Defense’s tasking memo known as “Tiger Team,” that highlights six key FMS pressure points and provides recommendations to improve and accelerate the FMS process:

• Improve the Department’s understanding of ally and partner requirements
• Enable efficient reviews for release of technology
• Provide allies and partner nations relevant priority capabilities
• Accelerate acquisition and contracting support
• Expand Defense Industrial Base (DIB) capacity
• Ensure broad U.S. government support

Discussion included an overview of U.S. policy regarding weapons and defense technology release to the Middle East region, the potential for improving the CFIUS approval process for U.A.E. investments in the United States, and the impact of the U.A.E.’s ties with Chinese technology on U.S. defense and security relationships. Industry participants shared their perspectives on the FMS process and sought clarification regarding end use requirements and protection of U.S. technology. Conversation touched upon the impact of the demand for equipment stemming from the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine on the pipeline of sales to partners and allies, including to the U.A.E.

Key U.S. companies also asked questions about implementation and utilization of AI in defense equipment and the controls and oversight that might be implemented in the future. Cyber policy and controls were also raised. Both of these areas are ripe for growing and new cooperation between the U.S. and the U.A.E. defense establishments.

The Honorable Stanley L. Brown was confirmed as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs in May 2022. He previously served as Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs from January 1 to May 6, 2022. From January 2020 to January 2021, he served as PM’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Programs and Operations, and from July 2013 to January 2020, Mr. Brown served as the Director of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the PM Bureau. Before joining the Department of State, he served 27 years in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot primarily in Special Operations units but also in assignments at the Department of State to include Director of the Office of International Security Operations, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Special Operations Chief in the Office of Counterterrorism.

Mike Miller serves as the Deputy Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, responsible for the oversight of DSCA’s diverse portfolio of Security Cooperation programs and working with external stakeholders to synchronize DSCA’s activities with U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives. Mr. Miller previously served at the Department of State for over twenty-four years. His last assignment there was as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM), where he oversaw the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that govern U.S. commercial exports of defense articles and defense services.

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council has hosted roundtables with visiting U.S. government officials for every Dubai Airshow for the last 15 years. For questions about this event or the Business Council’s work in the aerospace and defense sector, please contact Amira Siddiqi at asiddiqi@usuaebusiness.org.