US designates UAE "major defence partner"

The United States has recognised the UAE as a “major defence partner,” after President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with US President Biden in Washington on Monday.

The UAE is the second ever country to receive the designation, after India in 2021, and will allow for unprecedented cooperation through joint military exercises.

In a statement, the White House said the designation would allow for further defence and military cooperation to “enhance defence cooperation and security in the Middle East, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean regions,” and “allow for unprecedented cooperation through joint training, exercises, and military-to-military collaboration, between the military forces of the United States, the UAE, and India, as well as other common military partners, in furtherance of regional stability”.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Washington on Monday, marking the first official visit by the President since assuming office in 2022. The leader met with his American counterpart, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and other senior officials. The meetings surrounded economic partnership enhancement, as well as development in AI, and defence.