Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets US military's Middle East chief

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Lt Gen Michael Kurilla discuss strengthening defence co-operation

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, with Lt Gen Michael Kurilla, US Central Command chief, at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed and Lt Gen Kurilla discussed initiatives to strengthen defence co-operation during the meeting, which was also attended by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Maj Gen Saleh Al Ameri, Commander of UAE Joint Operations, and Lt Gen Issa Saif Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, attended the meeting.

Members of the US delegation at the meeting at Al Shati Palace.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, received US Army Lt Gen Michael Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command in the Middle East, in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Lt Gen Kurilla, who was confirmed in the role by Congress in February, succeeded Gen Frank McKenzie.

During the meeting at Qasr Al Shati, Sheikh Mohamed and Lt Gen Kurilla discussed further “consolidating the defence co-operation” between the UAE and the US “as part of the strategic relations binding the two nations”, state news agency Wam reported.

They also “exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of interest”, Wam said.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Lt Gen Issa Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Maj Gen Saleh Al Ameri, Commander of UAE Joint Operations.