UAE FM says developing stronger ties with US under Biden presidency

The United Arab Emirates is strengthening its relationship with the United States, the Gulf state's foreign minister said on Friday, a sign of warmer relations after several friction points during the Biden presidency.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan made his comments after the UAE's ruler held separate talks this week with US President Joe Biden, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Emirati leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was making his first visit to the US as president. It was also the first visit by a sitting Emirati president to the US since the UAE was established in 1971.

During the visit, Biden recognised the Gulf state as a major defence partner.

"My country, the UAE, is doubling down on its relationship with the US ," Sheikh Abdullah said in a statement to Reuters without providing details.

He said that being recognised as a major defence partner was a welcome development that mirrored a confidence in US policy.

The UAE is a security partner of the US, having fought alongside American forces in several military campaigns, including the war in Afghanistan, and US troops are stationed in Abu Dhabi. The UAE also depends on the US security umbrella in the Gulf.

But Washington has been concerned about the UAE's warm relationship with China and the US commitment to the Gulf state's security.

Sheikh Abdullah, the foreign minister, said Abu Dhabi looked forward to continuing to work with Washington.

"The UAE remains very bullish about the US," he said.

This year, Washington and Abu Dhabi deepened cooperation on artificial intelligence but only after a state-backed Emirati technology firm committed to pulling out Chinese hardware from its systems and selling Chinese investments.

Microsoft is now a key investor in the state-backed firm, G42. Sheikh Mohamed this week met Microsoft , opens new tab CEO Satya Nadella and chipmaker Nvidia  CEO Jensen Huang.