On Tuesday, senior government leaders from our two nations gathered for the inaugural US-UAE Strategic Dialogue. We assessed the state of our ever-strengthening alliance, a partnership united in security, trade and culture that is rooted in shared priorities, common values and mutual aspirations.
Periodic strategic evaluations between nations are a healthy way to assess where our relationship stands and how it can be enhanced. Only close allies sharing a bond of trust and mutual respect engage in such honest conversations. This dialogue will create a framework to achieve optimal and mutually beneficial results now and long into the future. It will allow both countries to effectively organise and focus aspects of our partnership.
From our perspectives, as the US Ambassador in Abu Dhabi and the UAE Ambassador in Washington, the US-UAE relationship is flourishing and the outlook looks even brighter. This optimism is mutual because we see firsthand the benefits of this alliance as we engage Americans and Emiratis across the public and private sectors.
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Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, speaks to Donald Trump, US president at the time, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office in September 2020. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state at the time. Wam -
Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Pompeo in Washington. Wam -
Sheikh Abdullah visits Washington in September last year. Wam -
Sheikh Abdullah, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, US President Donald Trump, centre, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sign the Abraham Accord at the White House South Lawn. MOFAIC -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the White House. MOFAIC -
Sheikh Abdullah, Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu at the White House during the Abraham Accord signing ceremony. MOFAIC -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump and Mr Al Zayani wave from the Truman Balcony at the White House. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump sign the Abraham Accord. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah speaks as Mr Trump looks on before the signing of Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AP -
Sheikh Abdullah looks on from the White House as Mr Trump speaks at the Abraham Accord signing ceremony, also attended by Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu. AP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani stand on the Blue Room Balcony during the signing ceremony. AP -
Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Al Zayani shortly before participating in the signing of the Abraham Accord. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah, with Mr Netanyahu, left, and Mr Al Zayani at the signing of the Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AFP -
US President Donald Trump speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP -
President Donald Trump walks to the Abraham Accord signing ceremony at the White House with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AP -
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives at the White House to attend the Abraham Accord signing ceremony hosted by President Donald Trump. EPA -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House before the signing of Abraham Accord. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, in the Oval Office. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah with Mr Trump in the Oval Office. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with by President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National -
The UAE delegation led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, is welcomed to the White House by US President Donald Trump. EPA -
Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Trump outside the White House. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed speaks to Mr Trump after arriving at the White House. Reuters -
White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner walks away following a television interview on the North Lawn at the White House in Washington. Reuters -
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome the arrival of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington DC. AFP -
A delegation of senior UAE officials led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, prepares to depart for the White House to sign the Abraham Accord. MOFAIC -
US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AFP -
Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani arrives at the White House in Washington DC. AFP -
US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP -
Preparations at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. -
Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. -
Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. -
Preparation at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. The National
From the pursuit of regional peace, to trade and innovation, to co-operation in health care, education and the arts, this is a partnership that is both broad and deep. It touches countless aspects of American and Emirati life. A dynamic relationship spanning varied disciplines makes for a strong partnership and this confidence underpins our strategic alliance.
Through the US-UAE Strategic Dialogue, we will build upon our recent achievements. The Abraham Accords, facilitated by the US, reshaped the region in a bold and swift move. In the Middle East, we need more co-operation and less conflict, increased harmony and a reduction of hostility.
Vision and leadership allowed this breakthrough to occur, and the desire for collaboration in business and entrepreneurship between the dynamic economies of the UAE and Israel will benefit the neighbourhood. It is heartening that scientists and researchers from all three countries are collaborating to develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests to address the coronavirus pandemic. The future possibilities are endless.
This historic development does not erase the regional dilemmas confronting our two nations. Weak governance, economic mismanagement and corruption in some Middle Eastern countries, coupled with destabilising efforts by foreign powers, threaten to undermine progress. Extremism, sectarianism and terrorism are alive and well in too many places.
This reality underscores the need for a close US-UAE security partnership to deter military threats. Our deep defence and intelligence relationship sends a clear message to adversaries that our bond is unshakeable. The UAE continues to assume an increased responsibility for shared security, while the US maintains a vital role in regional efforts. Joint planning, training and military exercises between our armed forces enhance our mutual national security obligations. For the UAE, it is a source of tremendous pride that Emirati troops have participated with the US in six military coalitions and that 5,000 American military personnel are stationed in the Emirates.
The US and UAE have been aptly described as “essential business partners”. In 2019, with bilateral trade exceeding $24 billion and exports to the UAE supporting 120,000 American jobs, our commercial alignment creates prosperity through trade, investment and employment. Last year, the US had a $15.7bn trade surplus with the Emirates – America’s third largest globally. The expanding UAE knowledge and innovation-based economy, with an emphasis on artificial intelligence, is a particularly fertile space. It is our belief that increased collaboration will drive job growth, spur business opportunities and empower the up-and-coming generation of entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, best-in-class US institutions are opening hubs of activity in the UAE. Since its establishment in 2015, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is revolutionising the delivery of health care in the country while Mayo Clinic’s joint venture with Abu Dhabi Health Services Company serves as an example to other organisations looking to collaborate in key sectors. New York University Abu Dhabi attracts talented students throughout the world and is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. US companies in the fields of aviation, civil nuclear energy, renewables, space exploration, food security and life sciences understand the necessity of establishing operations in the UAE. Cultural institutions similarly see the emergence of a regional arts capital, and collaborations between local organisations and the Smithsonian Institution underscore this theme.
Finally, the strategic dialogue will include an effort to strengthen the US-UAE human rights partnership by exchanging best practices and jointly working to counter human trafficking, confront religious hatred and ethnic bigotry and protect and promote human rights on the domestic, regional and international levels. While political, security and commercial issues are integral to this strategic dialogue, the glue binding the alliance is values-based. Countries that empower women to lead government ministries, foster peaceful religious co-existence and respect cultural diversity are thriving societies.
This joint perspective is the basis for our shared optimism about the future of the US-UAE relationship. In our meetings this week, we came together virtually from Abu Dhabi and Washington to write the next chapter in the story of our friendship, and to chart a course for continued prosperity and progress. The discussions to come will be forward-looking as we chart a course for a more prosperous and secure future, building upon a nearly 50-year-old bilateral relationship.
Yousef Al Otaiba is the UAE ambassador to the US. John Rakolta, Jr is the US ambassador to the UAE
