Washington:
US President Joe Biden congratulated the de facto ruler of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on his election as president of the country Saturday after the death of his half-brother.
“I congratulate my longtime friend Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his election as President of the United Arab Emirates,” Biden said in a statement, adding that he looked forward to working with the leader “to strengthen ties between our countries.” and nations.”
US Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to the UAE on Monday to lead a presidential delegation “and to express condolences on behalf of the Biden-Harris administration and the American people” on the death of the previous president, Sheikh Khalifa, she said. office in a statement Saturday.
In Abu Dhabi, Harris will meet Sheikh Mohamed and “underline the strength of the partnership between our countries and our desire to further deepen our ties in the coming months and years,” the statement said.
Sheikh Mohamed, 61, a trained soldier, has long been a silent force behind Abu Dhabi’s throne, analysts say.
He took on a leadership role after his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa withdrew from public in 2014, when he underwent surgery for a stroke.
Following the death of Sheikh Khalifa Friday, Sheikh Mohamed was unanimously elected by the Supreme Federal Council, made up of rulers from the seven emirates of the UAE. He has also been appointed ruler of Abu Dhabi, which controls most of the country’s oil wealth.
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)