US President Joe Biden on Monday recognized the United Arab Emirates as an important defense partner of Washington after talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on issues including the war in Gaza and growing instability in the Middle East.
The US designation (India is the only other country to have been designated as such, in 2016) allows for close military cooperation through joint training, exercises and other collaborative efforts.
Tensions in the Middle East
This development comes at a time when the Middle East region is witnessing some of the deadliest escalations of tension.
This includes the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, which has killed over 41,000 Palestinians and counting since Hamas' surprise attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,100 Israelis.
Thousands of people have also been injured as a result of the ongoing war in the region.
The UAE has voiced its support for Palestine at the United Nations Security Council, introducing resolutions condemning Israel's war in Gaza, often putting it at odds with the veto-wielding United States. Al Jazeera reported.
However, Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan called for “urgent and unhindered” humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and shared their commitment to a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in a statement after their meeting.
At the start of the meeting, Biden said he had been briefed on the latest developments between Israel and Lebanon, where Lebanese officials say Israeli airstrikes killed at least 492 people on Monday.
“My team is in constant contact with their counterparts and we are working to de-escalate the situation so that people can return home safely,” he said.
Conflict in Sudan
The leaders' joint statement addressed the Gulf state's involvement in the Sudan conflict, with both stressing that there was no military solution to the war, which has triggered the world's largest displacement crisis.
They also outlined plans to deepen cooperation in space exploration, clean energy and artificial intelligence, areas in which the UAE has launched ambitious plans that have sparked interest from China, its geopolitical rival.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris met separately with the UAE leader, but the talks were closed to the press. Reuters reported.
“The Vice President expressed her deep concern about the conflict in Sudan,” the White House said. “She expressed alarm at the millions of people who have been displaced by the war and the atrocities committed by belligerents against civilians.”
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
Biden and Zayed also discussed the progress of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a project launched at the 2023 G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi, underscoring its potential to usher in a “new era of international connectivity.”
This project is expected to “facilitate global trade and distribution of clean energy, expand reliable access to electricity and strengthen telecommunications,” according to Economic times.
The project was launched jointly with the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union.
Once completed, it would connect India via ship-to-rail links through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Europe via Greece.
At the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed that the corridor will generate economic growth, increase efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable transformative integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East, according to a joint statement.
