Washington (AFP) – US President Joe Biden met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday for talks on conflicts in the Middle East and Sudan, despite concerns over the Gulf power’s own role in the Sudan conflict. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris also met the Emirati leader at the White House, marking the first visit by a president of the oil-rich monarchy to Washington.
In a joint statement after their meeting, Biden and Sheikh Mohamed expressed their “shared concern about the risk of imminent atrocities” as fighting continues in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region. The two leaders called for an “immediate” ceasefire in the brutal civil war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and a return to the political process. However, their statement did not address Sudan’s repeated accusations against the UAE for allegedly backing the RSF, which the United States accuses of committing crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing in Darfur. Instead, the statement emphasized that “all parties to the conflict (in Sudan) must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.”
Their meeting took place just before the UN General Assembly in New York was set to debate the 17-month conflict, particularly the fighting in the devastated city of El-Fasher. Harris, who met the UAE president separately, “raised her deep concerns about the conflict in Sudan,” according to her office.
Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza, following the October 7 attacks, was also a key topic. The UAE is expected to play a significant role in the Gaza Strip’s eventual post-war reconstruction. Biden, who is in the final months of his presidency, stated after shaking hands with Sheikh Mohamed that they would “discuss our efforts to end the war in Gaza and a number of issues.” He mentioned being briefed on developments in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds had resulted in the deaths of 356 people, and conveyed that he is “working to de-escalate” the situation.
Biden praised the relationship with the UAE, describing it as a “nation of trailblazers, always looking to the future, always making big bets,” and noted that it was poised to become a “major defense partner” of the United States. For its part, the UAE provided a different perspective on the visit, indicating that it aimed to highlight economic and technological cooperation, particularly in AI, as it seeks to pivot its economy away from oil.
Presidential advisor Anwar Gargash remarked that the Emiratis were prioritizing “economy first” in their “strategic relationship” with the United States. Gargash emphasized last week that the UAE’s ties with the United States were “our most important strategic relationship,” despite occasional discussions of tensions within it. Notably, the UAE maintains close ties with Russia and has refrained from condemning the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
© 2024 AFP
