Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said that Saudi Arabia is an Arab Islamic fortress in the face of any attempts to threaten regional security or interfere in Arab internal affairs. reiterating
Attending the Joint Gulf Shield I military exercise in eastern Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized UAE's support to Saudi Arabia, indicating that UAE-Saudi alliance is based on solid foundations of mutual respect, cooperation and understanding, and aims to promote regional stability and maintain the pillars of Arab security in face of any risks or threats.
Sheikh Mohamed has expressed his appreciation for the generous care and guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to ensure the success of the Joint Gulf Shield I military exercise. He pointed out that the UAE Armed Forces' participation in the military drill reaffirms the UAE's commitment, under the leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to work alongside brotherly and friendly nations to confront threats and challenges across regional and international arenas.
The Crown Prince also stated that the Joint Gulf Shield and a large number of participating countries underscore the deep awareness of the complex circumstances in the region and the world, and the necessity for military coordination between regional actors to be able to deal with challenges that arise, especially those that interfere in regional affairs and embrace extremism and terrorism.
He noted that the holding of Joint Gulf Shield I military exercise, the largest ever in the region, in Saudi Arabia, confirms the Kingdom's pivotal and pioneering role as a pillar of regional security and stability.