Better this then they have the ports.
I think the top leaders of the UAE understand that the ports deal was derailed by political games and emotion, not by a fundamental change in our business relationship and security relations with the UAE. There will be a lot of publicity about "fallout from the ports deal" because writers have to write about something, but the ports deal isn't going to affect trade with the UAE significantly.
"Better this then they have the ports."
I wouldn't be too sure about that. This could merely be the tip of the iceberg.