UAE’s Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy teams up with Johns Hopkins University

Diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Khalifa announces partnership during Washington trip

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa. Reuters

The UAE's premier institution for training the country’s next generation of diplomats has partnered with the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.

Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Khalifa and the former minister of state for foreign affairs, made the announcement during a speech at Johns Hopkins University’s Washington campus on Thursday.

The partnership between the two institutions will help educate a new generation of leaders in international relations.

At the heart of the collaboration will be the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan professorship at Johns Hopkins's Henry A Kissinger Centre for Global Affairs. The professorship will be jointly funded in perpetuity by the two parties.

Joined by two of the UAE’s most senior diplomats – Yousef Al Otaiba, the ambassador to Washington, and Lana Nusseibeh, the permanent representative to the UN – Dr Gargash outlined the country’s diplomatic vision for the future.

“The last year and a half underscored just how interconnected we are – no country is completely immune to events beyond its borders,” said Dr Gargash.

“At the same time, I am encouraged by a renewed spirit to dialogue and multilateralism. This is particularly welcome for the UAE as we prepare to take our seat at the [UN] Security Council and as we welcome the world to Dubai Expo.”

Dr Gargash added that “this ideal will have to be sustained if we are able to address our most pressing global challenges, and secure a peaceful and thriving future.”

The Diplomatic advisor to President Sheikh Khalifa was in Washington for five days of meetings.

Dr Gargash met with several high ranking American officials, members of Congress and National Security Council Co-ordinator for the Middle East Brett McGurk.

His trip to the US was the first for a senior UAE diplomat since the signing of the Abraham Accords last September.

The accords, which normalised UAE relations with Israel were applauded by the Biden administration and leaders of both political parties.

During Dr Gargash's meeting with Mr McGurk, which took place at the White House, Dr Gargash stressed the UAE's close relationship with the US, something he pointed to during his speech on Thursday.

"This UAE-US partnership remains a constant," he said. "It has endured though remarkable change and this visit has only added to my confidence about its future."

The partnership between the two institutions will help young leaders navigate the challenging world of international relations, staying true to the UAE’s commitment to openness, dialogue and tolerance, something Dr Gargash said that Sheikh Zayed, the country’s Founding Father, paved the way for.

“As Sheikh Zayed first understood 50 years ago, our diplomats must be prepared to rise to the challenge,” Dr Gargash concluded. “And I cannot think of a more appropriate partner for the academy and for the UAE in this effort than [the School of Advanced International Studies].”

During his visit to Washington, Dr Gargash also met Wendy Sherman, the US deputy secretary of state, who said the two discussed "our work to promote a more peaceful Middle East".