UAE strongman Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed named new president & More Trending News

DUBAI, May 14 (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates’ de facto chief Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan was elected president of the Gulf Arab state by a federal supreme council on Saturday, solidifying his rule over the OPEC oil producer and key regional participant. learn extra

He turns into president at a time when the UAE’s long-standing ties with the United States have been strained over perceived U.S. disengagement from its Gulf allies’ safety issues and as Western international locations search assist from the area to assist isolate Russia over the Ukraine battle.

The council, which teams the rulers of the seven emirates of the UAE federation, elected Sheikh Mohammed, referred to as MbZ, a day after the demise of his half-brother, President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, who was additionally ruler of Abu Dhabi.

“We congratulate him and pledge allegiance to him as do our people,” mentioned Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who can also be UAE vice-president and premier.

MbZ, 61, has wielded energy behind the scenes for years and led a realignment of the Middle East that created a new anti-Iran axis with Israel.

The UAE, a commerce and tourism hub, has additionally deepened ties with Russia and China at a time when Washington’s political capital with Abu Dhabi and Riyadh has been eroded by variations over the Yemen warfare, Iran and U.S. circumstances on arms gross sales.

“Mohammed bin Zayed has set not only the future course for the UAE but for much of the Gulf in his approach to state building and power projection,” mentioned Kristin Diwan, senior resident scholar at Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

“The future direction under him is set and is mirrored in other Gulf leaders adopting state-led and globally-oriented economic diversification.”

‘EXTRAORDINARY FOUNDATION’

The Biden administration has moved to fix ties with oil heavyweights Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Both have refused to take sides within the Russia-Ukraine battle and rebuffed Western calls to pump extra oil to assist tame crude costs. learn extra

President Joe Biden mentioned in an announcement on Saturday that he appeared ahead to working with Sheikh Mohammed “to build from this extraordinary foundation to further strengthen the bonds between our countries and peoples.”

Vice President Kamala Harris will head a U.S. delegation to the UAE on Monday to supply condolences following Khalifa’s demise and can meet with MbZ, press secretary Kirsten Allen mentioned.

French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Israeli President Isaac Herzog are attributable to arrive on Sunday. learn extra S8N2S7032

MbZ as president wouldn’t lead the UAE to interrupt with the United States or different Western companions although he’ll diversify the nation’s worldwide companions, Emirati political scientist Abulkhaleq Abdulla advised Reuters.

MbZ has shifted away from a hawkish overseas coverage and army adventurism, that noticed the UAE wade into conflicts from Yemen to Libya, to deal with financial priorities. This has seen the UAE interact with foes Iran and Turkey after years of animosity, in addition to Syria’s president.

“MbZ will need to take further steps to cement the UAE’s position as the region’s leading financial, logistics, and trading hub,” James Swanston of Capital Economics mentioned in a observe, referring to a push by Gulf states to diversify economies amid a world vitality transition away from hydrocarbons.

Reporting by Enas Alashray, Lisa Barrington, Saeed Azhar, Alexander Cornwell, Steve Holland and Ari Rabinovitch; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Christina Fincher

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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