US President Joe Biden said he welcomes the UAE's commitment to global energy security and its investment in climate action and energy transition during a meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed on Saturday.
"President Biden welcomed the UAE’s long-time commitment to global energy security as a reliable and responsible supplier, and recognised its leading role in advancing climate action," a joint statement said.
While Mr Biden invited the UAE ruler to Washington, Sheikh Mohamed extended an invite for the US leader to attend the Cop28 climate summit in the UAE in November next year.
“We both understand that the challenges we face today only make it a lot more important that we spend more time together. I want to formally invite you to the States before this year’s out,” Mr Biden told Sheikh Mohamed.
The statement added that the countries' respective climate envoys ― John Kerry and Dr Sultan Al Jaber ― would "explore new opportunities in the climate and clean energy sphere to drive economic growth and sustainable development".
It was the first time the two leaders had met since Sheikh Mohamed was elected President last month, after the death of Sheikh Khalifa.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed "his appreciation for the sincere feelings shown by President Biden towards the UAE and its people", state news agency Wam said.
The meeting came during the US president's first official tour of the Middle East since taking office and happened on the sidelines of the Jeddah Security and Development Summit in Saudi Arabia that was attended by top GCC officials, as well as the leaders of Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.
"It was a pleasure to participate in the Jeddah Security and Development Summit today," Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter.
Mr Biden thanked Shiekh Mohamed for his personal role in strengthening relations in the region.
"President Biden expressed appreciation for President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s personal leadership in breaking down barriers and forging diplomatic relations with Israel, as well as deepening cooperation with other countries in the region," the statement said.
They also discussed the role of the US in helping forge new economic, trade and inter-people relations between the countries that have signed the Abraham Accords.
They discussed the importance of a two-state solution for Palestinians and that they also benefit from the Abraham Accords.
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US President Joe Biden waves from a plane at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. AFP -
US President Joe Biden boards a plane at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. AFP -
Mr Biden walks to the plane. AFP -
President Sheikh Mohamed in discussion with Mr Biden during the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Presidential Court -
US President Joe Biden attends the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit at a hotel in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coastal city. AFP -
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC+3 meeting in Jeddah. AFP -
US President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP -
President Sheikh Mohamed attended a traditional summit 'family photo call' in the company of, from left: Asaad bin Tariq Al Said, Omani Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Co-operation Affairs and the Special Representative of the Sultan; Sheikh Mohamed; Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi; Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa; US President Joe Biden; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Jordan's King Abdullah II; Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; Kuwait's Crown Prince Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, and Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi. AFP -
President Sheikh Mohamed is received by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed is received by Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohamed bin Salman upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed greets Sheikh Mishal Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, during the GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Photo: Rashed Al Mansoori / Presidential Court -
US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other officials during a bilateral meeting at a hotel in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah before the GCC+3 meeting. AFP -
US President Joe Biden meets Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, in Jeddah before the beginning of the GCC+3 meeting. Reuters -
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Sheikh Mishal Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, before the GCC + 3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit on Saturday. SPA -
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrive for the Jeddah summit. SPA -
US President Joe Biden participates in a working session with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. AP -
US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a bilateral meeting with Saudi officials led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al Salam Palace. Reuters -
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman takes part in a working session with US President Joe Biden and his team. AFP -
Saudi Arabia's King Salman greets US President Joe Biden at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov -
King Salman and US President Joe Biden in discussions at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov -
US President Joe Biden meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov -
US President Joe Biden arrives at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov -
US President Joe Biden is welcomed by Saudi Arabian officials. AFP -
Mr Biden disembarks from Air Force One at King Abdulaziz International Airport, following a flight from Tel Aviv. AFP -
US Presidents Joe Biden salutes as he boards Air Force One at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv en route to a meeting with the GCC+3 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters -
Israel's President Isaac Herzog, second right, and caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, centre, bid farewell to US President Joe Biden at Ben Gurion Airport. AFP -
US President Joe Biden meets clergy at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. Reuters -
US President Joe Biden is introduced to local people at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Reuters -
US President Joe Biden arrives at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, on the second full day of his Middle East visit. AFP -
US President Joe Biden and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas address the media after their meeting at the Muqataa Presidential Compound in Bethlehem, the occupied West Bank. AFP -
A photo of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is placed on a chair as reporters wait for US President Joe Biden and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to speak. She was killed in a raid by Israeli forces in May. The caption reads: 'Shireen Abu Akleh, voice of Palestine'. AP -
US President Joe Biden with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a welcome ceremony at the Palestinian Muqataa Presidential Compound in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. AFP -
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomes US President Joe Biden to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters -
A Palestinian security officer stands guard near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank before US President Joe Biden’s official visit. AFP -
Palestinian and Israeli human rights campaigners lift banners during a rally near Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem as US President Joe Binden visits. AFP -
US President Joe Biden greets fans as he attends the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. AFP -
US President Joe Biden poses for a picture with US athletes competing in the Maccabiah Games. AFP -
People use the lights of their phones during the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem, attended by US President Joe Biden. Reuters -
US athletes attend the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem. AFP -
The Maccabiah Games coincided with the US President Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East. AFP -
US President Joe Biden, centre, Israel's caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, right, and President Isaac Herzog attend the opening ceremony for the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem. Reuters -
A Palestinian protester carries a placard during a demonstration in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah as US President Joe Biden visited Israel. AFP -
In Gaza City, Palestinian demonstrators wave their national flag as they gather to protest against the visit by US President Joe Biden to Israel. AFP -
A billboard, part of a campaign organised by the Centre for Human Rights B'Tselem, installed before US President Joe Biden's arrival for an official visit in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. PA -
US President Joe Biden receives the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour from Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. AP Photo -
US President Joe Biden, centre left, and President Isaac Herzog with children after Mr Biden's arrival at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. AFP -
US President Joe Biden signs the guest book in the presence of President Isaac Herzog on arriving at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. AFP -
US President Joe Biden with President Isaac Herzog and Mrs Michal Herzog in Jerusalem. AFP -
US and Saudi Arabian flags in a square in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before US President Joe Biden's visit. AP -
US President Joe Biden and caretaker Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid at a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem. EPA -
President Sheikh Mohamed delivers the opening speech during the I2U2 summit, a meeting between the leaders of the UAE, India, Israel and the US. Seen with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Photo: Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid during the I2U2 summit. Photo: Presidential Court -
US President Joe Biden and caretaker Iraeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid address a joint press conference. AFP -
US President Joe Biden and Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid during their meeting at a hotel in Jerusalem. AFP -
US President Joe Biden speaks to Holocaust survivors Dr Gita Cycowicz and Rena Quint in the Hall of Remembrance, at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. AP -
US President Joe Biden participates in a wreath-laying ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. AP -
Israel's President Isaac Herzog speaks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US President Joe Biden during their visit to Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. Reuters -
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz, left, US President Joe Biden, second left, caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, right, and Brig Gen Shawn Harris, defence attache to the US embassy, in front of Israel's Iron Dome defence system during a tour at Ben Gurion Airport. AP -
US President Joe Biden waves as he leaves Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on his way to Jerusalem. EPA -
US President Joe Biden, centre, stands for the national anthems alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, Israel's President Herzog, third left, caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, third right, and departing prime minister Naftali Bennett, second right, at Ben Gurion Airport. AFP -
Caretaker Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog welcome US President Joe Biden to Israel as his trip begins. Reuters
Mr Biden also affirmed the US's commitment to the development of defence co-operation with the UAE that has "made both countries safer and been a major contributor to regional peace and stability".
"President Biden recommitted to supporting the defence of the UAE against terrorist and other hostile acts such as the attacks targeting civilian sites in the UAE in January 2022," the statement said.
Early this year, Houthi rockets and armed drones fired at the Emirates killed three and wounded six at a construction site and oil facility.
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US President Joe Biden attends the GCC+3 summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters -
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP -
Mr Biden takes notes while an usher serves coffee during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP -
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi attends the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP -
Jordan's King Abdullah II attends the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP -
Mr Biden speaks during the GCC+3 meeting. AFP -
Leaders and representatives of the Gulf Co-operation Council countries, as well as the US, Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, attend the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP -
From left: Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister of Oman and Special Representative of the Sultan, the UAE's President, Sheikh Mohamed, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Bahrain's King Hamad, US President Joe Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Jordan's King Abdullah II, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Kuwait's Crown Prince Mishal Al Sabah, and Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Photo: Jordanian Royal Palace / AFP -
US President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrive for the family photo. AP -
Crown Prince Mohammed receives Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar. SPA -
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Jordan's King Abdullah II. SPA -
Bahrain's King Hamad is welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Jeddah. SPA -
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed receives Asa'ad bin Tariq, Deputy Prime Minister and Special Representative of the Sultan of Oman, in Jeddah. SPA -
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Sheikh Mishal Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, before the Jeddah Security and Development Summit on Saturday. SPA -
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi speaks with Crown Prince Mohammed after arriving for the summit. SPA -
US President Joe Biden is received by Prince Khalid Al Faisal Al Saud, Governor of Makkah, in Jeddah. Photo: Media Office of the Governor of Mecca -
Crown Prince Mohammed receives Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad. SPA -
Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi with Crown Prince Mohammed. AFP
On the war in Yemen, they discussed the now 15-week long ceasefire but "President Biden emphasized the threats still emanating from Yemen and elsewhere and the importance of ensuring that the UAE has the best and most effective means to defend its homeland and people".
Sheikh Mohamed confirmed that the US was the primary security partner for the UAE and the two leaders agreed to "accelerate and intensify discussions to further enhance these historic ties".
The two leaders "committed to continue to use their collective diplomatic standing to de-escalate and end conflicts elsewhere in the region".
On the economy, Mr Biden noted that the UAE is one of the fastest-growing US partnerships worldwide and their largest trade partner in the region. He welcomed the UAE's investment across the region and globally, as well as the free trade deals recently signed with Israel, India and Indonesia.
"President Biden recognised the UAE’s efforts to strengthen its policies and enforcement mechanisms in the fight against financial crimes and illicit money flows," the statement said.
Lastly, Mr Biden acknowledged the UAE's role as a "force for change and global citizenship," as well as its role in promoting religious co-existence and challenging religious hatred. He noted the Abrahamic Family House and the Hedayah Centre as examples of this.
"He expressed appreciation for the role the UAE has played in delivering thousands of tons of medical supplies to nations around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic and its response to calls for humanitarian assistance during natural disasters."
