Mohamed bin Zayed visits France to strengthen bilateral ties
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahayan is scheduled to meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Paris. According to the UAE Embassy in France, the meeting between the two leaders will serve to "consolidate the strategic partnership" and "strengthen bilateral cooperation in different sectors".
This is the second time Bin Zayed has visited France since he became the country's president following the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan almost a year ago. Indeed, Paris was his first official trip abroad as the new Emirati leader, a gesture appreciated by Macron. "I am pleased that he has chosen France for his first state visit after being elected president. I am grateful for your interest," he said.
Le jeudi 11 mai, Son Altesse Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan @MohamedBinZayed, Président des Émirats arabes unis, se rendra à Paris pour une visite de travail. Cette visite sera marquée par une rencontre prévue avec le Président français Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron, afin… pic.twitter.com/QI1l8H0EJn
— Ambassade des Émirats Arabes Unis à Paris (@UAEEmbassyParis) May 10, 2023
That visit, in July 2022, focused on energy and concluded with several energy agreements. Abu Dhabi and Paris agreed to work on joint investment projects in the renewable and nuclear energy sector.
Before Bin Zayed's latest visit to Paris, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire noted that the UAE "can be a solution, at least temporarily, to replace Russian oil and diesel". In addition to energy agreements, the two countries deepened their partnership on education and climate change.
The UAE and France have been deepening their relations in a number of areas for many years. At the end of 2021, for example, Abu Dhabi bought 80 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault for $18.08 billion, the largest international arms sale in French history.
The two countries also share common values, objectives and interests, such as regional and international stability, the fight against terrorism and the promotion of peace. Just as Bin Zayed chose France as his first official trip abroad, Macron chose the Emirates as his first destination in the Middle East after winning the elections in 2017, which, according to Al-Ain "is evidence of the depth of the historic relations".
Bilateral ties between Abu Dhabi and Paris were renewed in 2020 after signing a new roadmap for strategic partnership until 2030. Since then, cooperation has intensified in economics, trade, security, health, culture and, most recently, energy.
