UAE, US issue joint statement on strengthening strategic partnership

The US-UAE Strategic Dialogue has been launched by the two sides to promote regional stability and cooperation as partners in peace.

The launch of the Strategic Dialogue comes in the wake of the historic Abraham Accords that was achieved with U.S. support.

Through the Strategic Dialogue, the countries plan to engage in an open, robust, and deep discussion that sustains and improves cooperation and deepens bilateral relationship.

The governments of the two nations have released the following joint statement on solidifying their strategic partnership:

''The United States, led by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, and the United Arab Emirates, UAE, led by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on October 20, 2020 further developed bilateral ties and solidified the strategic partnership between the two countries through the launch of a new strategic dialogue.

''The launch of the inaugural US-UAE Strategic Dialogue demonstrates Emirati and American resolve to advance efforts to promote regional stability and cooperation as partners in peace.

''The Strategic Dialogue will cover a number of key areas, from political coordination and defence cooperation to economic and cultural exchange, with the broad aim of advancing mutual policy interests, solving regional issues, promoting tolerance, and countering extremism.

''In recognition of the two countries’ security partnership, the Strategic Dialogue is meant to underline the importance of U.S.-UAE defence coordination to deter military threats through joint planning, training, exercises, and interoperability of equipment. Deepening and expanding the defence and intelligence relationship is expected to enable the UAE to continue developing its security capabilities and the United States to continue playing an active role in regional security efforts.

''The Strategic Dialogue will advance cooperation in law enforcement and border security to combat criminal activity, as well as U.S.-UAE intelligence sharing to counter extremism and strengthen multilateral partnerships that enhance international security.

''Moreover, the Strategic Dialogue aims to support mutual prosperity through open and increased trade and investment in critical sectors, including medicine, life sciences, energy, agriculture, food security, logistics, aviation, and artificial intelligence.

''On the cultural front, the dialogue is intended to broaden the enduring people-to-people connections between the UAE and United States in education, media, the arts, religious dialogue, and political institutions through our bilateral exchanges. Important collaboration across these sectors will be further advanced and highlighted by U.S. participation next year at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Middle East’s first-ever World’s Fair.

''Furthermore, noting the shared objective to support the peaceful use of outer space to the benefit of humanity, the two countries plan to work to expand cooperation on civil and commercial space activity and provide opportunities for collaboration in the space sector.

''Finally, the United States and the UAE plan to include within the Strategic Dialogue an effort to strengthen the U.S.-UAE human rights partnership by exchanging best practices and jointly working to combat human trafficking, confront religious hatred and ethnic bigotry, and protect and promote human rights on the domestic, regional, and international levels.''