The United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Abu Dhabi.
The high-profile discussion focused on the developments in the Palestinian territories and the impact of the crisis in Gaza on regional peace, stability, and security.
The official UAE news agency, WAM, reported that the meeting, held at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi, delved into bilateral cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance it across various fields to serve their mutual interests.
The conversation also touched upon a number of regional and international issues of joint interest. Particularly, the developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and the serious repercussions of the crisis in the Gaza Strip on regional peace, stability, and security were discussed, as per WAM.
The UAE President emphasized the urgency of establishing a ceasefire in Gaza to protect civilian lives. He stressed ensuring uninterrupted and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and preventing their displacement.
Both sides affirmed the importance of working to prevent the escalation of conflict, which threatens regional peace. They also acknowledged the necessity of establishing a clear path to comprehensive and lasting peace in the region as the means to achieve regional stability.
In attendance were Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun, Advisor for Special Affairs in the Presidential Court, Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security, Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and UAE Ambassador to Washington Yousef Al Otaiba.
Last Friday, the US State Department announced that Blinken “will travel to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt from January 4 to January 11, 2024.”
Blinken started his tour in Turkey, followed by Greece, then Jordan, and Qatar before heading to the UAE.
During his meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, the monarch expressed his total rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He emphasized the need to enable Gazans to return to their homes.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated that he discussed with Blinken efforts to prevent the expansion of conflict in the Middle East.
“The expansion of conflict in the region is a possibility that must be prevented,” he said, lamenting the continuous growth of conflict zones and the normalization of scenes of killing and destruction in Gaza.
He added, “We stressed the importance of pressing for a halt to the fighting and allowing aid to pass into the Gaza Strip,” emphasizing that “the crisis must be contained quickly, and a ceasefire in Gaza must be reached. There is no peace in the region without a fair and comprehensive settlement under international legitimacy.”
The Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has entered its 94th day, with continued clashes and Israeli bombardment across various regions of northern and southern Gaza amid worsening humanitarian and health crises.
