The US is sending a high-level delegation to the United Arab Emirates to pay respects to the country’s late ruler and hold talks on Monday with his successor, part of efforts to mend ties frayed over security and oil.
World leaders are descending on the OPEC member state after the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US Vice President Kamala Harris and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the world leaders offering their condolences and meeting with new ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The US delegation includes Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns. Their visit will aim to build on efforts behind the scenes to strengthen the bilateral relationship, a US official said.
Sheikh Mohammed, who has long controlled the levers of power in the UAE, presides over the world’s fourth-richest wealth fund and about 6% of proven reserves of crude oil. A powerful regional figure, he’s frequently used his clout to intervene in regional conflicts with one of the Middle East’s best-equipped militaries.
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