Gates visits UAE for talks on region

The US defence secretary Robert Gates met with UAE officials at the weekend to discuss regional matters and the continuing unrest, a Pentagon official said.

The visit, part of a wider tour of the region, is the third by Mr Gates to the UAE in 11 months, according to Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon's press secretary.

Mr Morrell said in a statement on Twitter that the meeting focused on "defence co-operation, regional unrest and, yes, Iran".

Mr Gates met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. According to the state news agency Wam, the pair discussed "ways to enhance ties of friendship between the UAE and US, latest regional and international developments and issues of mutual interest".

The visit has coincided with political upheaval in the region. Mr Gates had already visited Saudi Arabia and Iraq as part of his regional tour.

Experts have suggested that the tour was intended to repair relations between the US and Gulf countries.

According to Dr Theodore Karasik, the director of research and development at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (Inegma), Mr Gates's visit to these countries was intended "to test their temperature on what is happening in Libya, and of course perception on infiltrations of Iran".

"The visit is intended to make sure everybody is on the same page," Dr Karasik added.

The UAE sent fighter jets to help enforce a no-fly zone over Libya under Nato command.

Last week, GCC foreign ministers condemned what they described as Iran's interference in the region, especially in Bahrain and Kuwait. GCC countries have intervened to restore order in Bahrain after weeks of unrest in the island kingdom, drawing protests from Iran.

The Gulf countries have also been trying to broker a deal for the departure of the Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is facing massive demonstrations calling for his departure.

Mr Saleh was a US ally, but the US withdrew political support last week. Dr Karasik said that plans for Yemen were probably also discussed during the meeting.

hdajani@thenational.ae

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