Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Barham Saleh demonstrate the good relations between the Emirates and Iraq
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces, and the President of the Republic of Iraq, Barham Saleh, met on Emirati soil to discuss the regional situation in the Middle East and possibilities for further developing the good relations between the two nations.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan received the Iraqi leader at the Al-Shati Palace, who first congratulated UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan himself for the success of the Gulf nation's space mission to Mars, a significant achievement which he described as a source of pride for Arabs and a symbol of great national and technological progress.
The two leaders discussed a range of issues of regional and international concern, with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi reaffirming the UAE's determination to ensure the stability, security and territorial integrity of Iraq and continued support for its people. Precisely, at a time of difficulty for Iraq due to the economic and social crisis in the nation and the political interference of other nations that is denounced by the citizens; above all, in relation to the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran, present in the territory through the influence of Shiite groups such as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, and the United States, which has a significant military presence in the country, despite the fact that the US announced a month ago that it was reducing its military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan to 5,000 troops.
Iraq is going through difficult times, with strong demonstrations by the population against the precarious economic situation and the lack of basic social services, and against the interference of other countries and the corruption installed in the administrative spheres, as various analysts have pointed out. After months of protests, there were changes in the government and the situation now seems to have stabilised with the arrival of Prime Minister Mustapha al-Kazemi.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan emphasised the strategic depth of the Republic of Iraq to the Arab world and the important role Iraq plays in strengthening the Arab community. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi also thanked the Iraqi President for his recognition of the historic success of the Red Planet probe.
The two leaders discussed the latest developments in the global battle against COVID-19 and their countries' efforts to halt the humanitarian, economic and health consequences of the spread of the virus. Of particular note was the UAE's work in providing international assistance to dozens of countries by sending medical supplies and supplies that have helped to tackle the pandemic in nations across the globe, and by establishing The Hope Consortium initiative designed to stockpile and distribute vaccines against the coronavirus around the world. Precisely, the COVID-19 health crisis has affected Iraq like many other countries in terms of the number of infections and casualties, but it has also led to the diversion of national efforts, especially those related to security forces, to deal with the health emergency and to help, which was exploited at various times by radical or jihadist groups to act on the ground, as in the case of Daesh, for example.
All these issues, along with important regional threats such as those arising from the expansionism and political meddling of countries such as Turkey and Iran in other states' affairs, were discussed at the meeting between Mohamed bin Zayed and Barham Saleh. The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon al-Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, Anwar bin Mohamed Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Yousef al-Otaiba, UAE ambassador to the United States, and Mohamed Mubarak al-Mazrouei, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, along with the Iraqi delegation accompanying their president, as reported by the official Emirati news agency WAM.
This is a new sign of the good harmony between the two countries, which was also expressed at the last meeting in January between the Iraqi Minister of Defence, Juma Inad Saadoun, and Mohamed bin Zayed himself. At the meeting, emphasis was placed on the historical ties between the two countries, and on the need to expand cooperation in the field of military industry, a sector in which the United Arab Emirates is putting a great deal of effort and achieving important results. They also discussed the impact of terrorism, a threat that Iraq in particular continues to face, and how the two nations can work together to combat it. Mohamed bin Zayed has already shown his support for Iraq in its efforts to wipe out the remnants of Daesh and continue the development of a country that has suffered from political instability and conflict for years.
