United Arab Emirates’ leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan was elected president of the Gulf Arab country by the state executive on Saturday, tightening his stance on OPEC oil producer and regional key player.He became president at a time when the long-standing UAE relationship with the United States was strained due to the US lack of commitment to the security concerns of its Gulf counterparts and as Western countries sought regional support to help divide Russia over the Ukraine conflict.
The council, which includes the rulers of the seven UAE states, elected Sheikh Mohammed, better known as MbZ, the day after the death of his half-brother, President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, also the governor of Abu Dhabi.”We congratulate him and pledge allegiance to him as our people do,” said Dubai governor Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also the UAE vice president and prime minister. MbZ, 61, used force years later and led the Middle East reform that created a new axis against Iran and Israel.
UAE a trade and tourism hub
The UAE, a trade and tourism hub, also deepened relations with Russia and China at a time when the political capitals of Washington and Abu Dhabi and Riyadh ended tensions over the Yemeni war, Iran and US conditions on arms sales.
“Mohammed bin Zayed laid out not only the future study of the UAE but also a large part of the Gulf in his approach to state-building and speculation of power,” said Kristin Diwan, a senior scholar living at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. “The path to the future under him has been suspended and is reflected in other Gulf leaders who embrace government-led and diversified economic diversity.”
Bidenmoved on to repair relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Biden officials have moved on to repair relations with heavy oil spills in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Both have refused to take sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and have spent Western calls to pump more oil to help lower green prices.
President Joe Biden in a statement on Saturday said he was looking forward to working with Sheikh Mohammed to “build from this extraordinary foundation to further strengthen ties between our countries and the people.”Deputy President Kamala Harris will lead a US delegation to the UAE on Monday to offer condolences following Khalifa’s death and will meet with MbZ, news correspondent Kirsten Allen said. French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Israeli President Isaac Herzog will arrive on Sunday.
MbZ as president will not lead the UAE to separate from the United States or its other Western allies even though it will divide international partners, Emirati political scientist Abulkhaleq Abdulla told the news.The MbZ has moved away from hawkish foreign policy and military adventurism, which has seen the UAE enter into conflict from Yemen to Libya, in order to focus on economic priorities. This has seen the UAE work with enemies Iran and Turkey after years of hostilities, as well as the Syrian president.
“MbZ will need to take further steps to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading financial, transport, and trade hub for the region,” James Swanston of Capital Economics wrote in the paper, referring to the Gulf provinces’ drive to divide the world economy switching away from hydrocarbons.
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