US-UAE strategic partnership deepens as Sheikh Mohamed visits White House

Biden calls UAE 'nation of trailblazers' with an eye on the future

The UAE and US announced deepening ties across many sectors on Monday, after President Sheikh Mohamed and US President Joe Biden met at the White House.

In a statement, the two leaders voiced support for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza and reaffirmed their countries' enduring strategic and defence partnership and deepening co-operation in advanced technology and investments.

Washington recognised the UAE as one of two major defence partners, alongside India. The new designation will lead to more defence co-operation and enhanced security in the Middle East, East Africa and the Indian Ocean regions, “in furtherance of regional stability”, said a statement reported by state news agency Wam.

The announcement came soon after Mr Biden welcomed Sheikh Mohamed to the White House for the first meeting between sitting UAE and US presidents on American soil since the Emirates was founded in 1971.

Sheikh Mohamed emphasised the country's “unwavering commitment” to its relations with the US. He spoke of the “power of partnerships” during the talks and said he looked forward to discussing relations between their countries.

Later, Sheikh Mohamed posted on social media: “I was pleased to meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House. The strategic and enduring partnership that unites our countries is unwavering, and today we explored ways to further build on these historic ties in key areas including trade, investment, technology, AI, space and climate action.

“Together our nations will continue to promote stability and prosperity for the people of the UAE, the USA, and the world.”

During the meeting, Mr Biden also said he had been briefed on the latest escalation in Israel and Lebanon. “My team is in contact with their counterparts and we're working to de-escalate in a way that allows people to return to their homes safely,” he said.

“Mr President, I want you to know that I remain committed to UAE security and look forward to discussions covering a lot of areas.”

The two leaders reviewed various aspects of the long-standing ties between their countries, particularly in the fields of trade and investment, the economy, advanced technology, space, renewable energy, climate action, sustainability and food security, Wam reported. They also expressed their commitment to expand collaboration in these areas to help advance the shared ambitions of the UAE and US to boost global prosperity and stability.

Sheikh Mohamed recalled a 1974 meeting between UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and a team from Nasa who gave a briefing on the Apollo programme. Fifty years later, Sheikh Mohamed said, the UAE is now working with Nasa on the development of the Gateway mission, the first space station to orbit the Moon.

Mr Biden credited the UAE as being “a nation of trailblazers, always looking to the future, always making big bets”, he said.

“That’s something our countries have in common, our people have in common,” he added, pointing to growing co-operation in artificial intelligence, clean energy and investment in infrastructure.

Sheikh Mohamed also praised the mediation efforts of the US, Egypt and Qatar to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees. He emphasised his commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

After arriving at the White House, Sheikh Mohamed wrote in the guestbook about his pleasure at meeting Mr Biden.

The talks were attended by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, and Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE's ambassador to the US and Minister of State.

US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic Party's nominee and aims to succeed Mr Biden in November's presidential elections, met Sheikh Mohamed later on Monday.

They discussed the long-standing strategic partnership between the UAE and the US, Wam reported. Sheikh Mohamed discussed the need for peace and stability in the Middle East with Ms Harris, stressing “the critical need for all parties to pursue a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace”.

Both expressed their confidence that UAE-US relations would continue to flourish, in no small part thanks to opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as the economy, trade and investment, technology, energy, and climate action.

While regional affairs are a key concern for both countries, Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to Sheikh Mohamed, stressed last week that the visit will focus on bilateral ties and “how we want to realign our relationship with America for the next 10 years”.

In a briefing in Dubai, Dr Gargash noted that “sometimes people like to talk about some tensions in the relationship, but the big story is that this is our most important strategic relationship, regardless of fair or foul weather”, adding that the “relationship is growing”.

Sheikh Mohamed has sought to strengthen the UAE-US alliance in recent years. He has met Mr Biden and Ms Harris previously and visited the US several times as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Biden speak frequently by phone and met in Jeddah in 2022, and again at the G20 summit in New Delhi last year.

Dr Gargash said “the main purpose of the visit, from an Emirati perspective, is investing in our future, and that's through an economic lens and through a real realignment with what's happening in AI and in technology”.

Relations between US presidents and UAE leaders go back decades. In 2008, Sheikh Mohamed, who was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the time, hosted George W Bush when he travelled to the country to meet former UAE President, the late Sheikh Khalifa, in Abu Dhabi. The occasion was the first official visit to the Emirates by a sitting American president.

Five months later, Sheikh Mohamed held talks with Mr Bush at Camp David. Sheikh Mohamed was also received in Washington by presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.