This week's annual US-UAE Joint Military Dialogue (JMD) at the Pentagon brought together senior US and Emirati officials. The talks specifically covered collaboration on new capabilities and integrated air and missile defense.
According to Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Dave Herndon, "the United States and the UAE reaffirmed their commitment to a strong bilateral defense relationship and recognized the UAE as a key partner in addressing regional challenges."
He continued by saying that the significance of the bilateral strategic relationship, which is predicated on common goals and interests, was acknowledged by both parties.
A wide range of regional and defense problems were covered at the two-day meeting, including counterterrorism, maritime security, air and missile defense, present regional security dynamics, and security cooperation.
Separately, by agreeing to the Cooperative Technology Security Program (CTSP) Execution Plan, the two nations established a bilateral technology security relationship.
Lt. Gen. Eisa Al Mazrouie, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, headed the delegation from the United Arab Emirates, while Amanda Dory, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, represented the United States.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield issued a warning on Monday, stating that "a crisis of enormous proportions is taking shape" and urging all nations, including the UAE, to cease supporting both sides of the Sudanese conflict.
The worst displacement catastrophe in history resulted from a war that broke out in Sudan a year ago between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The capital of North Darfur, Sudan, is El Fasher. The United Nations has voiced fear that the Rapid Support Forces may launch an attack on it soon.
The battle over El Fasher, the region's ancient capital, has alarmed and prolonged ethnic tensions that first emerged during the conflict in the early 2000s, according to locals, aid organizations, and analysts.