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© Reuters. President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defence Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi attend a Federal Supreme Council assembly at Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Could 14, 2022. United Arab Emirates Ministry of Presidential Affairs/Handout by way of REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
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DUBAI (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.
He turns into president at a time when the UAE’s long-standing ties with america have been strained over perceived U.S. disengagement from its Gulf allies’ safety issues and as Western nations search help 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, generally known as MbZ, a day after the dying 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 folks…and the complete nation will comply with his management to glory,” Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who can also be UAE vice-president and premier, mentioned in a Twitter (NYSE:) put up.
MbZ, 61, had already been wielding energy for years throughout which he led a realignment of the Center East that created a brand new anti-Iran axis with Israel and invested within the UAE army, which coupled with its oil wealth, prolonged Emirati affect.
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 conflict, Iran and U.S. circumstances on profitable arms gross sales.
“Mohammed bin Zayed has set not solely the longer term course for the UAE however for a lot of the Gulf in his strategy to state constructing and energy projection,” mentioned Kristin Diwan, senior resident scholar at Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
“The longer term path underneath him is ready and is mirrored in different Gulf leaders adopting state-led and globally-oriented financial diversification and a extra assertive overseas coverage that appears past the Gulf and conventional companions.”
‘EXTRAORDINARY FOUNDATION’
The Biden administration has moved to fix ties with oil heavyweights Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Each have refused to take sides within the Russia-Ukraine battle and rebuffed Western calls to pump extra oil to assist tame crude costs.
It wasn’t clear if U.S. President Joe Biden could be amongst world leaders heading to Abu Dhabi to supply condolences following Sheikh Khalifa’s dying.
“I sit up for working with Sheikh Mohammed to construct from this extraordinary basis to additional strengthen the bonds between our nations and peoples,” Biden mentioned in a press release.
French President Emmanuel Macron is because of arrive on Sunday.
Sheikh Mohammed as president wouldn’t lead the UAE to interrupt with america or different Western companions although he’ll diversify the Gulf Arab states worldwide companions, Emirati political scientist Abulkhaleq Abdulla instructed Reuters.
“That’s going to be the brand new factor on the agenda,” he mentioned.
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 might want to take additional steps to cement the UAE’s place because the area’s main monetary, logistics, and buying and selling hub,” James Swanston of Capital Economics mentioned in a notice, referring to a push by Gulf states to diversify economies amid a world vitality transition away from hydrocarbons.
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