АҚШ-тағы портоперациялар және ұлттық қауіпсіздік дауы

National security controversy in the United States

The Dubai Ports World controversy began in February 2006 and rose to prominence as a national security debate in the United States. At issue was the sale of port management businesses in six major U. S. seaports to a company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and whether such a sale would compromise port security. The controversy pertained to management contracts of six major United States ports. The purchaser was DP World (DPW), a state owned company in the UAE. The contracts had already been foreign owned, by Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), a British firm taken over by DPW (completed in March 2006). Although the sale was approved by the executive branch of the United States Government, various United States political figures argued that the takeover would compromise U. S. port security. U. S. President George W. Bush argued vigorously for the approval of the deal, claiming that the delay sends the wrong message to U. S. allies. Legislation was introduced to the United States Congress to delay the sale. On March 8, 2006, the United States House Committee on Appropriations voted 62–2 to block the deal. Despite President Bush's previous intention to veto the legislation, DP World announced on March 9, 2006 that they will drop the deal and transfer operations to a U. S. entity to defuse the situation. Dubai Ports World eventually sold P&O's American operations to American International Group's asset management division, Global Investment Group, for an undisclosed sum. The company is now known as Ports America.

DP World is a company owned by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, via a holding company. This holding company is under the direct control of the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.

In mid October 2005, DP World approached the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to clear regulatory hurdles for a possible acquisition of the British firm P&O. The CFIUS is the multi agency federal panel that passes judgment on deals with foreign corporations that raise antitrust or national security questions. Soon after, DPW began negotiating the terms of the takeover with P&O. They were advised by former President Bill Clinton to submit to a 45 day review of the acquisition. In December 2005, Coast Guard intelligence officials raised the possibility of significant security risks associated with the management of some U. S. port operations by a Dubai company, stating in a report that broad intelligence gaps prevented them from assessing the risks. In February 2006, the stockholders of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), a British firm, agreed to a sale of that company to DPW over a bid by PSA International of Singapore. As part of the sale, DPW would assume the leases of P&O to manage major U. S. facilities at the Port of New York and New Jersey, Port of Philadelphia, Port of Baltimore, Port of New Orleans, and the Port of Miami, as well as operations in 16 other ports. After P&O stockholders approved the deal, the arrangement was reviewed by the CFIUS headed by the U. S. Treasury Department. The transfer of leases was approved. When the deal appeared in the business press, it was noticed by Eller & Company, a Florida firm. Eller has two joint ventures with P&O and it feared becoming an "involuntary partner of DP World," said Michael Kreitzer, Eller's lawyer. Congressional politicians were quick to respond after Schumer's press conference and the AP story put the Dubai Ports deal in the national spotlight. Both Democratic and Republican members of Congress started to question the approval. Republican leaders Dennis Hastert and Bill Frist, who usually work closely with the office of the President, publicly questioned the deal. Frist said "If the administration cannot delay the process, I plan on introducing legislation to ensure that the deal is placed on hold until this decision gets a more thorough review." On February 22, 2006, President Bush threatened to veto any legislation passed by Congress to block the deal, a veto that would be his first. In a statement to reporters, Bush claimed, "It would send a terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go through." DP Worlds Chief Operating Officer, Ted Bilkey engaged a number of high profile lobbying firms to garner congressional support for the deal. On March 8, 2006, the House Panel voted 62–2 to block the deal, and Senator Charles Schumer added amendments to a Senate bill to block the deal, causing an uproar in the Senate. On March 9, 2006, Dubai Ports World released a statement saying they would turn over operation of U. S. ports to a U. S. "Entity". Later that same day, American Enterprise Institute scholar Norm Ornstein reported on PBS's "News Hour" that DP World was considering selling its U. S. operations to Halliburton. Dubai Ports World eventually sold P&O's American operations to American International Group's asset management division, Global Investment Group for an undisclosed sum. In New Jersey, it operates as Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT). Highstar Capital is shopping the company. In 2017, a Turkish company sought to buy Ports America, which would bring it full circle to 2006.

In 2018, another UAE based port operator, Gulftainer, won 50 year exclusive rights to operate and develop a port in the U. S. state of Delaware. The deal was seen as a breakthrough in UAE–US business relationships and that the "tide has turned" for UAE investors who wish to invest in the U. S.