Prime Minister David cameron received HRH Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at number 10 in Downing Street earlier today. The two leaders discussed areas of cooperation between the two nations and the progress hat has been made developing strategic partnership since the PM visit to the capital Abu Dhabi last november.
A Downing Street spokesman told the lobby reporters that the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince welcomed the progress that has been made in developing a broader and deeper strategic partnership between Britain and the UAE since the Prime Minister’s visit to Abu Dhabi in November 2012. They discussed a range of further opportunities relating to security and defence partnerships and UAE investment in the UK.
It is known that Britain have been discussing the final plans to station security rapid deployment force in base west of Dubai where UAE defence ministry have invested over £200 M developing it. The force will be made of British troops and equipment withdrawing from Afghanistan next year.
There is along history of British and UAE military, especially naval cooperation that goes back almost 200 years since the Royal Navy signed the Coast agreement in 1820 with several Sheikdoms and Emirates who make todays UAE. The eight and half million populated ( only quarters are emiratey citizens and rest guest workers) UAE is a federation of seven emirates, Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.and the capital Abu Dhabi, which were united on the even of Independence from Britain in 1971 by the founder the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan after ousting his backward ultra conservative brother Sheikh Shakbout with the help of British planned and executed white coup.
UAE has been a staunch ally of Britain and a historic friend, British troops, Royal navy and RAF planes often use UAE facilities especially in the last two Gulf wars.
According the Downing Street sources, the two leaders today discussed the situation in Egypt and agreed on the importance of returning Egypt to a path towards political and economic stability, including economic reform and a proper place for all parties within the political process. The UAE was, with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, the first nations to recognise the ousting of Muslim Brothers president Mohammed Morsi. UAE pledges over £3 bn in aid and loans to Egypt. The UAE last months put Muslim Brothers Sleeper cells on trial. UAE leaders, like their rest of their Gulf Cooperation Council neighbours told this this column they made it clear to both PM Cameron and Foreign Secretary William hague that changes in Egypt carry the will of the vast majority of Egyptian people and it will not be conducive for British interest to brand the changes as a ” military coup,” but is it correcting the path towards democracy.
On other regional issues, Syria was discussed, says No 10 spokesman, they agreed on the importance of reinforcing efforts to find a diplomatic solution and on the need for strong international co-ordination and action in support of the moderate opposition.
“They discussed the situation in Egypt and agreed on the importance of returning Egypt to a path towards political and economic stability, including economic reform and a proper place for all parties within the political process.
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