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Saudi Arabia Tops List of Anti-Terrorism Donors for the Sahel

Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Adel Al-Jubeir is welcomed by his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian, at La Celle-Saint-Cloud, December 13, Photo credit: LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP
Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Adel Al-Jubeir is welcomed by his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian, at La Celle-Saint-Cloud, December 13, Photo credit: LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP
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Saudi Arabia Tops List of Anti-Terrorism Donors for the Sahel

Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Adel Al-Jubeir is welcomed by his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian, at La Celle-Saint-Cloud, December 13, Photo credit: LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP
Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Adel Al-Jubeir is welcomed by his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian, at La Celle-Saint-Cloud, December 13, Photo credit: LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP

La Celle-Saint-Cloud – French President Emmanuel Macron hosted an international meeting in Paris on Wednesday to discuss means to provide political, military and financial support to the African Common Force, which was formed earlier this year to combat terrorism in the Sahel.
 
The summit achieved remarkable results, with Saudi Arabia pledging 100 million Euros to the joint force, becoming the largest state to finance terrorism in the Sahel, while the UAE promised 30 million Euros and Washington had already announced aid of up to USD 60 million.
 
Participants included leaders of the African countries that form the joint force known as the G5S (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger), as well as Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the prime ministers of Belgium and Italy, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir, as well as representatives of the UAE, United States, the United Nations and African and European countries.
 
The summit discussed the situation in Mali, where the parties have so far failed to implement the peace agreement reached after the French military intervention in this country with the help of Algeria. The latter did not attend the summit, as the French president did not succeed to convince Algerian officials during his visit to Algers last week to participate in the meeting of La Celle-Saint-Cloud.
 
“We must win the war against terrorism in the Sahel-Sahara region,” Macron told reporters after meeting with the five countries’ presidents and other leaders including Merkel.
 
“There are attacks every day. There are states which are currently in jeopardy,” he added.
 
A summit in Brussels in February is set to focus on raising more cash to provide further security to the African Continent.
 
“We cannot wait. We need to start leading the fight as soon as possible,” the German Chancellor said after Wednesday’s meeting. “This is an urgent task,” she added.

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Gulf

Mohamed bin Zayed, European Council President Discuss Strengthening Ties and Regional Developments

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, in Abu Dhabi. WAM
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, in Abu Dhabi. WAM
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Mohamed bin Zayed, European Council President Discuss Strengthening Ties and Regional Developments

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, in Abu Dhabi. WAM
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, in Abu Dhabi. WAM

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, have discussed ways to develop and expand relations to serve the common interests of all sides and foster growth and prosperity.

During Friday’s meeting, which took place at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed emphasized the deep ties between the UAE and the European Union, as well as the ongoing commitment to strengthening these relations to support their shared goals and promote peace and development at both the regional and global levels.

The meeting also touched upon the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council-European Union summit scheduled for October in Brussels. The UAE President and Michel emphasized the significance of the summit in advancing relations, especially in economic and developmental areas, and setting the stage for further progress in the years ahead.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the European Council President also reviewed several regional and international issues of mutual concern, particularly developments in the Middle East. They underscored the importance of reaching an urgent ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip to allow for adequate humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of its residents. They also stressed the need to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank and to push for a permanent and stable peace process based on the two-state solution.

Both sides emphasized the seriousness of escalating tensions in the region and the critical need for international efforts to contain and prevent the expansion of conflicts, which pose a threat to regional security and stability.

Sheikh Mohamed reiterated the UAE’s support for all efforts aimed at bringing an end to the conflict in Gaza and fostering stability and peace in the region. He also highlighted the UAE's commitment to cooperating with the European Union and other concerned parties to enhance the humanitarian response to the worsening situation in Gaza and support regional stability.

Charles Michel praised the UAE's position in support of Gulf-European cooperation and its influential humanitarian role in Gaza. He also commended the UAE’s contributions to peace and stability in the Middle East.