Macron receives Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

World

Published: 2021-09-16 10:48

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 16:04


Source: Arab News
Source: Arab News

French President Emmanuel Macron Wednesday received Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to discuss the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed arrived at the Palace of Fontainebleau, east of Paris, to meet Macron over lunch at about 11:45 GMT.

At the end of the meeting, both of them praised the importance of their countries' cooperation.

A joint statement issued by the French presidency stated that "the two leaders welcomed the strong and long-standing bilateral relationship between their countries (...), as well as their strategic partnership, which allows them to cooperate in all fields in order to solve common international and regional problems and study new ways to promote peace and prosperity." 

"The two sides affirmed their strong determination to rise to regional challenges, their determination to combat extremism and terrorism and to enhance their cooperation in the fields of security and defense," he added.

The UAE is a key partner for France in the region, and cooperation between the two countries is based on several levels.

On the military front, France is using Al Dhafra Air Base, located 30 kilometers from Abu Dhabi, which served as a launch and transit center in the air bridge that was established in Kabul to evacuate foreigners and Afghans who cooperated with Western countries, after the Taliban took control of the country in mid-August.

The UAE is also a customer of the French military industries and has, for example, Leclerc attack tanks.

On the cultural front, France and the UAE set up the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi in Fontainebleau itself financed the restoration of the Imperial Theatre, which dates back to Napoleon III, and has become also known as the "Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Theatre," in the name of the President of the UAE.

Both Macron and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed have complex relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.