Biden administration designates UAE a ‘major defence partner’
- In Reports
- 01:25 PM, Sep 24, 2024
- Myind Staff
US President Joe Biden has regarded the United Arab Emirates as a "major defence partner," further solidifying military cooperation between the two countries. The two countries have made this move despite disagreements over the war in Sudan and the rising tensions in the Middle East. It came after US President Joe Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a meeting at the White House. After India in 2021, the United Arab Emirates is the second nation to have this status.
The designation would “further enhance defence cooperation and security in the Middle East, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean regions,” according to a statement from the White House. The statement further added, “It would also allow for unprecedented cooperation through joint training, exercises, and military-to-military collaboration, between the military forces of the United States, the UAE, and India, as well as other common military partners, in furtherance of regional stability.”
The meeting came following the attacks on Lebanon by Israel. The attacks on the territory on Monday resulted in the deaths of at least 492 people, including 35 children. The Israelis claimed that their attacks were directed at Hezbollah's military infrastructure. During an Oval Office photo opportunity, Biden told reporters, “My team is in constant contact with their counterparts, and we’re working to de-escalate in a way that allows people to return to their home safely.”
Speaking to the reporters on Monday, a US State Department official added that this week at the UN General Assembly, US officials would be debating "concrete ideas" for an "off-ramp." Washington has come under fire regularly for failing to use its power to ease regional tensions, despite giving Israel billions of dollars in military assistance. Regarding Gaza, the White House stated that the two leaders "underscored their commitment to continue working together towards ending the conflict" and that entry to the enclave for UN humanitarian aid was necessary. A nearly year-long Israeli offensive in Gaza has resulted in at least 41,431 Palestinian deaths to date.
The UAE has been a prominent voice in the UN Security Council, frequently opposing the veto-wielding US by submitting resolutions denouncing Israel's war on Gaza. Nonetheless, Washington has long considered the Gulf nation essential to any reconstruction efforts in Gaza following the war.
According to the White House, Biden and Al Nahyan discussed their "commitment to the two-state solution" for Israel and Palestine as well as "a path to stabilisation and recovery that responds to the humanitarian crisis, establishes law and order, and lays the groundwork for responsible governance."
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