Latest news with #USUAErelations
The National
04-08-2025
- Politics
- The National
US ambassador receives First Class Order of Zayed II
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed has conferred departing US ambassador Martina Strong with the First Class Order of Zayed II. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented the honour to Ms Strong during a meeting in Abu Dhabi. Ms Strong arrived in the UAE as ambassador in 2023. The veteran diplomat had previously served as charge d'affaires in Saudi Arabia and deputy chief of mission in Bulgaria. She was also in Iraq as the political minister counsellor in Baghdad and as the US Army's political adviser in Basra. During her nearly two years as ambassador, Ms Strong helped in 'strengthening and advancing the strategic relations between the two nations across various fields', Wam reported. Donald Trump to the UAE in May in a historic visit in which the two countries expanded ties.
Khaleej Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Watch: Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's response to Donald Trump is a masterclass in diplomacy
In the world of diplomacy, a single phrase can summarise an entire nation's spirit. During the briefest handshakes or fleeting exchanges in the corridors of power, the most vital messages are often conveyed — in those moments, timing is everything. During the US President Donald Trump's recent visit to the UAE, a similar exchange unfolded between him and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The interaction took place on the sidelines of a press event, where Trump made a characteristically grand statement about economic figures (in investments). 'Now, we are maybe looking at maybe $13 trillion,' he said. 'These are numbers that nobody has ever... even you guys (looking at the Crown Prince) have never heard of in business, these are numbers never heard of before.' Sheikh Khaled responded with a subtle yet dignified interjection: "We are not as big as the United States." His tone, neither submissive nor dismissive, struck the perfect balance, acknowledging America's power while gently bringing the conversation into perspective. Trump, always quick with a quip, replied with a chuckle, "You better not be," drawing laughter from the room. With calm confidence and wit, the Crown Prince delivered his next remark, which struck a chord: "But we punch above our weight." The standout in that interaction is not what he said but how he delivered it. There was no boast, challenge, or tension — only the art of tactful parry. Watch the video below: Sheikh Khalid: we are not as big as the United States. But we punch above our weight ð��¦ð��° ð��� Trump : you do â�¦ you do â�¦ THAT I AGREE — ØسÙ� سجÙ�اÙ�Ù� ð��¦ð��° Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) May 17, 2025 It was a masterclass in diplomacy, a display of charm and wit, skillfully delivered in a moment that could have easily turned awkward. It was a remark rooted in quiet confidence, earned through discipline, and principle. Not to forget, the Crown Prince is also a trained jiu-jitsu practitioner and champion, a sport that values control, awareness, and the ability to turn leverage into advantage, qualities he exhibited in this very moment. In a world where power is often shown through bold statements and headlines, Sheikh Khaled's composed response served as a reminder that influence can also lie in subtleties.
Zawya
16-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Trump announces $200bln in deals during UAE visit, AI agreement signed
ABU DHABI: President Donald Trump on Thursday pledged to strengthen U.S. ties to the United Arab Emirates and announced deals with the Gulf state totalling over $200 billion and the two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence. After Trump's meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the White House said he announced deals that included a $14.5 billion commitment from Etihad Airways to invest in 28 Boeing 787 and 777x aircraft powered by engines made by GE Aerospace. The U.S. Commerce Department said the two countries also agreed to establish a "US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership" framework and Trump and Sheikh Mohamed attended the unveiling of a new 5GW AI campus, which would be the largest outside the United States. Sources have said the agreements will give the Gulf country expanded access to advanced artificial intelligence chips from the U.S. after previously facing restrictions over Washington's concerns that China could access the technology. Trump began a visit to the UAE on the latest stage of a tour of wealthy Gulf states after hailing plans by Doha to invest $10 billion in a U.S. military facility during a trip to Qatar. "I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better," Trump said in a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. "Your wonderful brother came to Washington a few weeks ago and he told us about your generous statement as to the 1.4 trillion," Trump said, referring to a UAE pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in the U.S. over 10 years. Trump was referring to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohamed's brother and the UAE's national security adviser and chairman of two of Abu Dhabi's deep-pocketed sovereign wealth funds. The U.S. president was met at the airport in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Mohamed, and they visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, its white minarets and domes, impressive in the late-afternoon light. "It is so beautiful," Trump told reporters inside the mosque, which he said had been closed for the day. "First time they closed it. It's in honor of the United States. Better than in honor of me. Let's give it to the country. That's a great tribute." $200 BILLION IN NEW DEALS A White House fact sheet said Trump had secured $200 billion in new U.S.-UAE deals and accelerated the previously committed $1.4 trillion. It said Emirates Global Aluminum would invest to develop a $4 billion primary aluminum smelter project in Oklahoma, while ExxonMobil Corp, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources were partnering with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in expanded oil and natural gas production valued at $60 billion. Sheikh Mohamed told Trump the UAE was "keen to continue and strengthen this friendship for the benefit of the two countries and peoples," adding to Trump: "your presence here today, your excellency, the president, confirms that this keenness is mutual." Before his departure for the UAE, Trump said in a speech to U.S. troops at the Al Udeid Air Base southwest of Doha that defence purchases signed by Qatar on Wednesday were worth $42 billion. UAE has been seeking U.S. help to make the wealthy Gulf nation a global leader in artificial intelligence. The U.S. has a preliminary agreement with the UAE to allow it to import 500,000 of Nvidia's most advanced AI chips a year, starting this year, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The deal would boost the UAE's construction of data centres vital to developing AI models, although the agreement has provoked national security concerns among sectors of the U.S. government. The AI agreement "includes the UAE committing to invest in, build, or finance U.S. data centers that are at least as large and as powerful as those in the UAE," the White House said. "The agreement also contains historic commitments by the UAE to further align their national security regulations with the United States, including strong protections to prevent the diversion of U.S.-origin technology." Former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration had imposed strict oversight of exports of U.S. AI chips to the Middle East and other regions. Among Biden's fears were that the prized semiconductors would be diverted to China and buttress its military strength. At the UAE presidential palace, Trump and Sheikh Mohamed could be seen in TV footage in conversation with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Trump said he would probably return to Washington on Friday after a regional trip that began on Tuesday, although he said it was "almost destination unknown." Trump had hinted he could stop in Istanbul for talks on Ukraine. DEALS, DIPLOMACY Other big business agreements have been signed during Trump's four-day swing through the Gulf region, including a deal for Qatar Airways to purchase up to 210 Boeing widebody jets, a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the U.S. and $142 billion in U.S. arms sales to the kingdom. The trip has also brought a flurry of diplomacy. Trump said in Qatar that the United States was getting very close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, and Tehran had "sort of" agreed to the terms. He also announced on Tuesday the U.S. would remove longstanding sanctions on Syria and subsequently met with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He urged Sharaa to establish ties with Syria's longtime foe Israel. Trump has made improving ties with some Gulf countries a key goal of his administration. If all the proposed chip deals in Gulf states, and the UAE in particular, come together, the region would become a third power centre in global AI competition after the United States and China. (Reporting by Gram Slattery and Andrew Mills in Doha and Federico Maccioni, Nayera Abdallah and Tala Ramadan in Dubai; Additional reporting by Yousef Saba, Karen Freifeld and Hadeel Al Sayegh; Writing by Michael Georgy, Gram Slattery, Timothy Heritage Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Andrew Heavens, William Maclean and Alistair Bell)
Al Jazeera
15-05-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Trump hails growing ties with UAE on last leg of Gulf tour
President Donald Trump has hailed deepening ties between the United States and the United Arab Emirates and said that the latter will invest $1.4 trillion in the former's artificial intelligence sector over the next decade. 'I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better,' Trump said on Thursday at a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the final leg of his three-day tour of the Gulf region that saw him strike a series of lucrative tech, business and military deals that he said amounted to $10 trillion. Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE remained 'committed to working with the United States to advance peace and stability in our region and globally'. The deal with UAE is expected to enable the Gulf country to build data centres vital to developing artificial intelligence models. The countries did not say which AI chips could be included in UAE data centres. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had earlier been seen in conversation with Sheikh Mohamed and Trump. The AI agreement 'includes the UAE committing to invest in, build, or finance U.S. data centres that are at least as large and as powerful as those in the UAE,' the White House said. Reporting from Doha in Qatar, Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra said such a deal had been 'a national security concern' for Washington in the past. 'But then they decided to change their mind under Trump, particularly when the UAE said that it was willing to invest $1.4 trillion,' he said. Ahelbarra said the deal was a 'significant step' for the UAE, positioning it as 'the most important player in artificial intelligence, followed by Saudi Arabia'. Before his departure for the UAE, Trump said in a speech to US troops at the Al Udeid Air Base southwest of Doha in Qatar that defence purchases signed by Qatar on Wednesday were worth $42bn. Other agreements signed during Trump's four-day swing through the Gulf include a deal for Qatar Airways to purchase up to 210 Boeing widebody jets, and a commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest $600bn in the US and to buy $142bn worth of US arms. The tour also brought a flurry of diplomacy, with Trump saying in Qatar on Thursday that the US was getting close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran. On Tuesday, he said the US would remove longstanding sanctions on Syria. Trump said he would probably return to Washington on Friday, although he said it was 'almost destination unknown because they'll be getting calls 'Could you be here? Could you be there?'' Trump had previously hinted that he could stop in Istanbul for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war.
