UAE president to make historic visit to Washington for talks with Biden

U.S. President Joe Biden will welcome UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the White House on Monday for a "historic" meeting, marking Sheikh Mohammed's first trip to Washington as the UAE's leader.

The visit will be the first ever in Washington by a UAE president and he will also meet separately with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running to succeed Biden.

The agenda will focus on major global issues like the ongoing war in Gaza, the crisis in Sudan, and the development of artificial intelligence (AI).

Biden and Harris "will discuss with President Mohamed, obviously, the crisis in Gaza, the UAE's essential role in addressing the humanitarian crisis there, and the crisis in Sudan," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Wednesday.

Beyond global concerns, the leaders will focus on strengthening the long-standing UAE-U.S. partnership, which has spanned more than 50 years. Discussions will include bolstering economic ties, expanding trade, advancing technology, and exploring opportunities in space exploration.

Climate change, clean energy and the UAE's role as a partner in the Group of Seven's global infrastructure partnership, will also be central to the talks, Kirby told reporters.

(With additional input from AFP)