UAE, US review defence relations during Abu Dhabi meeting

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, held a meeting with the US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The duo discussed the strategic relations that the UAE and the US share, with an emphasis on defence.

Importantly, the forces are looking to work together "to increase regional defence and continue to combat terrorism," according to a US Department of Defence statement.

The meeting was held in Qasr Al Shati' Palace in Abu Dhabi, where they also reviewed a number of international and regional issues of interest.

I just touched down in the United Arab Emirates, a nation that has been a reliable military partner for decades. The USA-UAE defense partnership remains strong and critical to bolstering regional security and stability. pic.twitter.com/1GlZ3dAubB

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) November 21, 2021

Secretary Austin, in a statement, thanked the UAE for its long-standing hospitality in hosting US forces and conveyed his appreciation for the UAE’s instrumental role in conducting evacuations from Afghanistan.  

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, the Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, and Major General Saleh Mohammed Saleh Megrin Al Ameri, Commander of Joint Operations.