United Arab Emirates and Iraq strengthen ties

The Iraqi delegation led by the country's defence minister, Juma Inad Saadoun, visited the United Arab Emirates to strengthen collaboration between the two countries, particularly in the military field. Saadoun met the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed, in addition to his Emirati counterpart and other military authorities.

The Crown Prince received the Iraqi defence minister in Abu Dhabi, with whom he discussed the situation in the region and the possibility of improving co-operation between the two countries in the interests of stability and progress. The meeting was also attended by other Emirati authorities.

The Iraqi minister also had time to visit the monument to the martyrs of Wahat al-Karama in Abu Dhabi, where he was received by the executive director of the Office of Martyr's Family Affairs at the Court of Mohammed bin Zayed.

During the meeting between the defence ministers of both countries, emphasis was placed on the historical ties that bind both countries and on the need to broaden co-operation in the field of the military industry-a sector in which the United Arab Emirates is making great efforts, achieving significant results. They also discussed the impact of terrorism, a threat that continues to be suffered by Iraq in particular, and how both countries can collaborate to combat it.

As part of this visit, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the current president of Iraq, Barham Saleh, who was elected in 2018, made a phone call to extend the commitments between the two countries beyond the military sphere. Mohamed bin Zayed showed his support for Iraq in its efforts to put an end to Daesh's remnants and continue with the development of a country that has suffered from political instability and conflicts for years.

There was also room in the conversation for addressing issues related to health and the impact the pandemic is having on both countries, but especially on Iraq, where the means of combating it are much scarcer. The two leaders committed themselves to strengthening ties in order to speed up co-operation and the assistance the Emirates can offer in achieving peace and stability not only in the country but also in the region.