US Vice President, Officials Pay Respects in UAE over Death of Sheikh Khalifa

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in the United Arab Emirates to offer condolences to new leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his half-brother President Khalifa bin Zayed, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 16, 2022. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in the United Arab Emirates to offer condolences to new leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his half-brother President Khalifa bin Zayed, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 16, 2022. (Reuters)
TT
20

US Vice President, Officials Pay Respects in UAE over Death of Sheikh Khalifa

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in the United Arab Emirates to offer condolences to new leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his half-brother President Khalifa bin Zayed, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 16, 2022. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in the United Arab Emirates to offer condolences to new leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his half-brother President Khalifa bin Zayed, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 16, 2022. (Reuters)

President Joe Biden sent a senior US delegation to the United Arab Emirates on Monday to offer condolences after the death of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The UAE named Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan its new president following the death of his half-brother last Friday.

The US delegation included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, CIA Director William Burns and climate envoy John Kerry, among others. It marks the highest-level public visit to the oil-rich capital of Abu Dhabi by Biden administration officials.

US Vice President Kamala Harris spent about three hours in the Emirati capital.

Blinken was first to touch down in Abu Dhabi before talks with his Emirati counterpart.

The make-up of the delegation reflected Washington's desire to show its commitment to the region, senior US officials say.

Harris planned to emphasize the intent to deepen ties across areas ranging from security and climate to space, energy and commerce, they added.

Before heading to Abu Dhabi, she said she was traveling on behalf of Biden to offer condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa.

"The United States takes quite seriously the strength of our relationship and partnership with the UAE," Harris told reporters.

"We are going there then to express our condolences but also as an expression of our commitment to the strength of that relationship."

Other world leaders who traveled to the UAE to pay their respects included Jordanian Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, President of the United Comoros Islands Othman Ghazali, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, and Duke of Cambridge Prince William.



Saudi Crown Prince, Russian FM Discuss Regional, International Developments

The Crown Prince welcomed Minister Lavrov and his accompanying delegation to the Kingdom on Tuesday - SPA
The Crown Prince welcomed Minister Lavrov and his accompanying delegation to the Kingdom on Tuesday - SPA
TT
20

Saudi Crown Prince, Russian FM Discuss Regional, International Developments

The Crown Prince welcomed Minister Lavrov and his accompanying delegation to the Kingdom on Tuesday - SPA
The Crown Prince welcomed Minister Lavrov and his accompanying delegation to the Kingdom on Tuesday - SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The officials reviewed relations between their countries and discussed ways to enhance and develop them in various fields.They also exchanged views on regional and international developments and the efforts exerted towards them to achieve security and stability.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Minister of National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, and Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban.
The meeting was also attended by Aide to the Russian President Yury Ushakov, Russian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sergey Kozlov, and several senior officials from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.