The UAE hosted a crucial meeting with the regional authorities the previous week, which was among the critical initiatives of Abu Dhabi in the region during the last month.
The UAE also hosted a meeting of the Negev Forum steering committee. The forum comprises the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Bahrain, and the US. Abu Dhabi also reached out to Damascus this month, based on the activities by Damascus for reconciling with Turkey.
The Abu Dhabi Consultative Meeting was the most important in the UAE, which brought together the leaders of the UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Egypt. A photo handout of the meeting exhibited the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UAE President Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Jordan’s King Abdullah || during a ” brotherly consultative meeting at the St Regis Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 18 January 2023″. All the delegates arrived at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayhan.
As per different reports, including Al-Ain media, the officials discussed the brotherly relations between their countries and other elements of cooperation and coordination between them in all areas. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the brotherly meeting held in the capital, Abu Dhabi, under the title -‘ Prosperity and Stability in the region, aims to reduce and deepen the cooperation between the brotherly countries across the different sectors that serve prosperity, development and stability in the area through collaboration and regional integration.
However many ways tag UAE can play a vital role in this group, so it was essential to see these leaders together. Many of these leaders have also met in other arrangements as a part of similar original groupings for years.
What are some issues at hand?
The issue of ” promoting Arab integration” based on shared interests and economic cooperation is the prime consideration. The region desperately needs financial support for some countries. For example, Jordan has had economic challenges and rising costs. This is not just an issue of Amman but a global issue of inflation and supply chain confusion that has broken out in the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Stability and prosperity are the two critical terms that these leaders highlighted. Stability means not having the breakdown of the state again and not letting extremists gain a foothold anywhere. This is important in Sinai as it is on the northern border of Jordan.
However, the UAE says it is a key partner and supporter of the developments in this region regarding different factors kike food security, climate change, and addressing epidemics and poverty.
The meeting underlines the overlapping interests of the Gulf States with the broader region, especially Jordan And Egypt.
An article in Al-Ain says that the UAE is interested in strengthening the ties with the above states and wants to have brotherly relations between these countries.
An article at Al-Ain stated, ” One of the aims of the summit will be to enhance the cooperation with the economies of the brotherly and friendly countries at this time, to develop societies, diversify sources of income, and support the economic system of these countries.”
However, the report states that Egypt, The UAE, and Jordan signed an agreement for an industrial partnership last year.
The article also highlighted the importance of the Palestinian cause and the countries’ longing to continue showing support for the Palestinians.
The recent meetings continue to illustrate the importance of regional foreign policy infrastructure in face-to-face meetings and how this trend will strengthen the unity in one issue between the UAE and these countries.
There is much to build on here and the many challenges to integrating the Arab countries in the path of the crisis that began in 2011. There are many questions regarding how the traditional cultural-economic capitals will play a role and how peace with Israel will prevail.
There are many issues lined up, but the attempt of the UAE to show leadership among the grouping of states will undoubtedly impact developments this year and in the future.
The above report gives a clear idea about the meetings between the UAE and the Middle Eastern countries to strengthen the ties between the countries and develop brotherly relations for future endeavors.
