Scott Horton Show - Just the Interviews 4/9/26 Matt Wolfson on Underappreciated Danger of the United Arab Emirates
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Apr 14, 2026 
Matt Wolfson, investigative journalist focused on foreign policy and the Middle East, discusses the rising power of the United Arab Emirates. He explores how U.S. and Israeli support helped shape its interventionist behavior. Topics include UAE influence in Africa and Libya, investments and intelligence ties in the U.S., spying and political manipulation, and its role in Yemen and regional alliances.
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UAE Operates Like A Modern Colonial Extractor
- The UAE has become a small-state power modeled on 19th-century Belgium, leveraging outside imperial patrons to extract resources across Africa.
- Matt Wolfson links UAE investment and interventions to resource extraction, destabilizing Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Egypt and Tunisia for minerals and agriculture.
UAE Is Deeply Invested In US AI And Infrastructure
- The UAE is investing heavily in critical US sectors, including AI, energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure.
- Wolfson cites roughly $2.4 trillion in US investments and highlights Emirati funding in AI infrastructure tied to GDP growth influence.
UAE Runs Covert Influence Inside The United States
- The UAE conducts intelligence and influence operations inside the United States, exploiting lobbying, campaign contributions, and disclosure gaps.
- Wolfson references a 2022 Washington Post and classified US report documenting manipulation efforts targeting US policy.
