New UAE president meets Macron as world leaders pay respects

The UAE’s new president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks Sunday with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron as world leaders streamed in to Abu Dhabi to pay tribute to his predecessor.

Macron, who was re-elected this month, expressed his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed following the demise of his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa, who died on Friday following a protracted sickness.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US Vice President Kamala Harris, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli President Isaac Herzog are additionally anticipated to reach in Abu Dhabi, capital of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, on Sunday and Monday.

Sheikh Mohamed, the UAE’s long-time de facto ruler throughout Sheikh Khalifa’s sickness, was chosen to guide the desert state in a unanimous vote by leaders of the nation’s seven emirates on Saturday.

Typically identified by his initials “MBZ”, took a number one position after Sheikh Khalifa retreated from public view in 2014, when he had surgical procedure after a stroke. The reason for his demise was not introduced.

Presidents and monarchs from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Oman and Tunisia, and Sudan’s de facto chief, have been amongst a protracted line of dignitaries to supply their condolences on Saturday.

Shut ally Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto chief, referred to as to congratulate the brand new president and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to commend his “dynamic and visionary management”.

Each Macron and Johnson are making their second visits to Abu Dhabi in current months. Johnson’s go to in March did not persuade the UAE and Saudi Arabia to pump extra oil after Russia’s conflict in Ukraine despatched markets into turmoil.

The UAE signed a 14-billion-euro contract for 80 Rafale warplanes throughout Macron’s earlier go to in December.

UAE relations with america have develop into strained below President Joe Biden, with the 2 sides at odds over Abu Dhabi’s shut ties with Russia and Washington’s reopening of nuclear talks with Iran, lengthy accused by Gulf states of making regional chaos.

The rich UAE has emerged as a frontrunner of a reshaped Center East, forging ties with Israel and becoming a member of a Saudi-led conflict in opposition to Iran-backed rebels in Yemen.