Inside Sheikh Mohamed’s US visit: Strengthened defence ties, AI collaborations and other key takeaways

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's recent visit to the U.S. was a high-profile affair, marked by pivotal meetings with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The leaders pledged to pursue new opportunities to strengthen their economic and defence partnership, and promote peace and stability across the Middle East and the wider region.

Here’s a breakdown of what went down:

UAE named 'major defence partner'

President Biden recognized the UAE as a major defense partner of the US, according to a joint U.S.-UAE joint statement.

The U.S. designation - India is the only other country to have been designated as such - allows for close military cooperation through joint training, exercises and other collaborative efforts.

President Biden acknowledged the UAE as the second Major Defence Partner of the United States, following India, aimed at enhancing defence cooperation in the Middle East, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean. This status enables unprecedented collaboration through joint training, military exercises, and partnerships, promoting regional stability.

Ceasefire in Gaza

The joint statement also urged support for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.

"They stressed the need to refrain from all unilateral measures that undermine the two-State solution, and to preserve the historic status quo of Jerusalem's holy sites," the joint statement said.

Biden and Sheikh Mohamed also called for "urgent, unhindered" humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.

Conment on Lebanon

At the start of the meeting, Biden said he had been briefed on the latest developments between Israel and Lebanon, where Lebanese officials said Israeli airstrikes killed at least 492 people on Monday.

"My team is in constant contact with their counterparts, and we're working to de-escalate in a way that allows people to return to their home safely," he said.

Meeting with VP Harris

Sheikh Mohamed also met with Harris at the White House, following his meeting with Biden, to discuss the enduring strategic partnership between the UAE and the US.

His Highness and Vice President Harris discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern. WAM

During the meeting, part of the UAE president’s official US visit, they reviewed the recent progress in bilateral ties and explored further collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, technology, energy, and climate action.

They also addressed regional and international issues, with the president reaffirming the UAE's commitment to regional stability and advocating for a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

AI partnership

The strong partnership between the UAE and the U.S. is evident in their shared economic goals and thriving private sectors, generating over $40 billion in annual bilateral trade, including more than $26 billion in U.S. exports to the UAE.

The leaders outlined a bold vision for the two nations to lead global efforts in expanding key sectors, especially advanced technologies and clean energy powering AI.

They highlighted the significant collaboration between Microsoft and UAE’s Group 42 (G42), spurred by Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in April 2024. This partnership accelerates joint AI development, enhancing digital infrastructure in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.

Additional input from Reuters