United Arab Emirates – Conversation between the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and his counterpart (08 Apr. 2022)

Today, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs met with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed the strategic nature of the relationship that unites France and the United Arab Emirates. The minister recalled the support provided by France to ensure the security of the Emirati territory and its inhabitants, in particular following the Houthi attacks on Abu Dhabi early this year. He emphasized the commitment made by France and the European Union to put an end to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which began on February 24 and which threatens the broader global balance, especially with regards to food and energy security. The minister insisted on our goal of diversifying the European energy supply.

Jean-Yves Le Drian expressed his desire to pursue and deepen a trust-based dialogue on regional crises, in particular the crisis in Lebanon. He reiterated that rehabilitating the Syrian regime without obtaining anything in return will not bring stability to Syria or the region. He recalled the need to conclude an agreement on returning to the JCPoA as quickly as possible and underscored the need for dialogue on issues of regional security. He also expressed France’s desire to work in close coordination with its main regional partners on these issues. Regarding Yemen, the minister commended the Gulf Cooperation Council on its ongoing efforts to find a political solution together with the United Nations’ Special Envoy under the auspices of the United Nations.