Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in Downing Street, London, England, September 16, 2021.
Hannah McKay – WPA Pool | Getty Images
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s first official visit to the United States is aimed at moving UAE-US relations towards economic growth and development, a senior UAE official said ahead of a meeting between the two leaders. A new “geoeconomic phase” centered on innovation Monday in Washington, D.C.
“The purpose of this visit is really from the UAE perspective, it is to invest from an economic perspective,” Anwar Gargash, the UAE leader’s most senior diplomatic adviser, told reporters at a press conference in Dubai on Thursday. our future.
The agenda for Sheikh Mohammed’s meeting with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will include discussing major regional challenges such as the war in Gaza, but Gargash said the first goal was economic adjustment as the UAE seeks to boost The relationship between the two countries goes beyond the traditional model.
“We are more in the geoeconomic phase,” Gargash said, suggesting the UAE president would seek to expand economic and security cooperation, as well as key areas such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, climate and space.
“The two leaders will highlight the half-century trajectory of the UAE-US partnership in trade, investment and security,” said Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to Washington. Published on X before visiting. He added: “Few countries have developed as fast as the UAE in advanced technology and artificial intelligence and have kept such close sync with the United States.”
Strengthening investment ties
trillion dollar relationship
The United States and the UAE have a trade and investment partnership that spans more than fifty years. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between the UAE and the United States will be approximately US$31.4 billion, of which US exports to the UAE will exceed US$24.8 billion. According to the UAE Embassy in Washington.
The UAE, which produces nearly 4% of the world’s oil supply, has also invested in the United States A total of $1 trillion. UAE sovereign wealth funds including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Mubadala Major investor in U.S. real estate, infrastructure and technology.
The UAE remains an important strategic defense and security partner for Washington, as it is home to the U.S. air base in Dhafra and is a key U.S. partner in Afghanistan and Iraq. The UAE is also part of the global coalition to defeat the Islamic State group, as well as operations against al-Qaeda and groups linked to the organization across the region. The UAE has also played a key role in regional conflicts including Libya, Sudan and Yemen.
“We see that we are developing a map of our thinking for the next 20 years,” Gargash said, adding that the strategic relationship has now transformed into what he calls a “360-degree relationship.”
The meeting between the two leaders comes as the ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to cause a major humanitarian crisis and undermine regional stability. Israel’s latest round of attacks Hezbollah targets Lebanon There is also news that Iran is helping the Houthi rebels in Yemen Target and shoot down American “Reaper” drones The ceasefire issue becomes more complicated ahead of the anniversary of the Israeli attack on October 7 and the upcoming US election on November 5.
