Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Abu Dhabi

The pair discussed regional peace and stability and the Abraham Accord

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, meets with Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State of the United States, at Al Shati Palace. MOPA

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (C), meets with Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State of the United States of America (L), at Al Shati Palace. Seen with Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor (R). MOPA

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife Susan speak with US Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates John Rakolta and his wife Terry after stepping off a plane at al-Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi on November 20, 2020. AFP

UAE's Protocol Chief Shihab al-Faheem greets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alongside his wife Susan in the presence of US Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates John Rakolta and his wife Terry, at al-Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi on November 20, 2020. AFP

USAF Boeing C-40B (737-700) carrying US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is reflected behind a man after landing at al-Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi on November 20, 2020. AFP

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the capital on Saturday.

They discussed regional and global developments as well as bilateral ties, Wam reported.

During their meeting at Al Shati Palace, the pair discussed "developments in the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East, ongoing efforts and moves aimed at settling regional crises and containing tensions through dialogue and diplomatic means." They also talked about "joint action to support regional peace and stability in addition to the dangers of extremism, terrorism, hate speech and incitement, and the need for effective international action to confront them".

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Pompeo also discussed the recent Abraham Accord signed by the UAE, Israel and the US and how it “opens up a new phase for relations and co-operation between countries in the Middle East.”

They also touched on the US-UAE Strategic Dialogue launched last October and its role in promoting understanding between the two countries.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States, and Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, attended the meeting at Al Shati Palace.

Mr Pompeo arrived in the UAE on Friday evening as part of a 10-day, seven-nation trip to Europe and the Middle East that focuses on counterterrorism and religious freedom.

It follows a three-day visit to Israel that started on Wednesday, where he became the first top US diplomat to visit an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, announcing new measures against organisations seen as backing a boycott of Israel. He also visited the occupied Golan Heights.

Before his arrival, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said the visit would set a “dangerous precedent” by seeking to legitimise Israeli settlements that are considered illegal by the majority of the international community.

More than 440,000 settlers live in the West Bank alongside about three million Palestinians, according to Israeli NGO Peace Now.

Mr Pompeo also visited Paris, and met the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, raising the ire of Turkish officials as he did not meet them.

He tweeted pictures of him being greeted by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the leader of around 300 million Orthodox Christians, after being shown around the Patriarchate. He also met with the apostolic nuncio to Turkey, Archbishop Paul Russell.

Mr Pompeo also went to Qatar to meet emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and will go to Saudi Arabia.

In the waning days of the Trump administration, Mr Pompeo showed no indication of slowing down or changing direction. He has yet to publicly acknowledge Joe Biden as president-elect and a number of diplomats and foreign policy experts have said they are perplexed by it.

Joe Biden, who was the Democratic candidate, has a projected insurmountable victory in the electoral college, despite President Donald Trump's legal challenges in several states.

__________________________________ Gallery: Pompeo in Israel and the West Bank