We’re taking investments in US 'one step further,' says UAE Minister Sheikh Abdullah

During US President Trump's landmark visit to the Middle East, Fox News' Bret Baier had an exclusive interview with Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss UAE-US relations and reflect on the region's complex dynamics.

Following is the interview:

Bret Baier: Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Your Highness, it’s great to see you again. Welcome back to Special Report.

Sheikh Abdullah: Bret, it’s always great to be with you and I know your show is watched widely by millions, congratulations.

Bret Baier: Thank you. A big day here today with the President’s visit. What does it mean for this country, for the region and where you see things?

Sheikh Abdullah: It’s definitely a historical day for us, for our relationship. The President, President Trump, and America has been so great to the UAE in supporting this relationship, taking it even further ahead. We are a very welcoming nation like yours. People are free to do whatever they like and practice religion the way they see appropriate. Churches, mosques, synagogues, Hindu temples, you name it. And I really believe that our values are quite similar. I mean we both take family as a core part of our relationship. When we look at the rest of the world, unfortunately some don’t agree with us, but most do.

Bret Baier: This is a big financial trip for investment in the US and investment in the Middle East. You did deals today and you’ve pledged more than $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years. The President touts that very proudly; what does that mean, do you think for that interaction between the US, bilaterally, in the future?

Sheikh Abdullah: Bret, it works because your nation has been so open for business, and we’ve learned from you. We’ve been investing in the United States for decades, but now we’re taking it one step further, not only in terms of size, but in terms of trust and we are grateful for President Trump for that.

Bret Baier: There is a lot of turmoil in the region and one of the big questions is Iran and what will happen. Here’s what the President said about that: [Recording of President Trump] ‘It’s not like I have to give you 30 pages worth of details, there’s only one sentence: they can’t have a nuclear weapon. There’s two steps. There’s a very, very nice step and there’s a violent step. Violence like people haven’t seen before and I don’t… I hope we’re not going to have to do this. I don’t want to do the second step.’Where do you think this is going? Do you think Iran’s going to make a deal that dismantles its nuclear programme?

Sheikh Abdullah: Bret, I believe in good models. I look at the UAE and see that the UAE have made a nuclear deal with the United States. It’s called the 123. And it’s called the Gold Standard. I really wish that people in the region, and beyond, look at how this deal has been such a benefit for both our nations.

Bret Baier: Well, this gives you civilian nuclear power. You have like four power plants; you’re cooking on all cylinders when it comes to that.

Sheikh Abdullah: Yes, and by the way, it was built on time, on budget. Believe it or not, for a nuclear reactor, it’s not very much likely to happen.

Bret Baier: So, do you think there’s a model there for Iran, you all, Saudi Arabia, that somehow gets to the heart of this issue of dismantling its nuclear programme on the weapons side?

Sheikh Abdullah: Bret, it’s about trust and transparency. And if we can overcome these two elements, we can do great things together.

Bret Baier: They’ve been bad actors on a number of fronts though. The proxies, the Houthis, the … Hamas. So there’s got to be other red lines, right?

Sheikh Abdullah: I believe that a country should respect international law. I really hope that Iran looks at the approach of President Trump in such an opening of the United States towards the Iranian people, which could be very much beneficial for the Iranians but it’s for the Iranian people to make.

Bret Baier: Alright, Gaza, Hamas. It’s still going on. There are still hostages that haven’t been released. How do you see that and how do you see it ending? We started with the Abraham Accords and the historic relationship that you now have with Israel and … as well as Bahrain. Is that going to happen in this environment with anybody else?

Sheikh Abdullah: Let me answer the question in a different way. The UAE has provided over 42% of all international aid into Gaza in the last almost two years now, during this war. If it wasn’t for the Abraham Accords between the UAE and Israel, with the great role that was played by and initiated by President Trump, I don’t think we would be as capable in delivering that much aid into Gaza.

Bret Baier: Who should secure Gaza when Israel has finished its military operation? I mean, does Israel need to leave immediately? Do you all play a role? How does it like, paint the picture, how we get to the next step?

Sheikh Abdullah: First, getting the hostages out. We need calm in Gaza and we need an authority that’s not Hamas, that controls Gaza. If we can provide assistance, ideas, we’re always here to do so.

Bret Baier: You met with the Palestinian Authority recently. Are they open?

Sheikh Abdullah: I think they are very much fed up with the current situation and you can hear it from them. They want an end to this war. Now, will they have a role or not? That depends on how the United States, Israel, and the rest would help or avoid doing so at the moment. But eventually it’s only for the Palestinians to run the place.

Bret Baier: Syria, seems like they’re trying to come back into the fold, if you will. The President saying he’s lifting sanctions. Should President Trump trust Syrian President Al Sharaa?

Sheikh Abdullah: Well, I think it’s too early to use that word.

Bret Baier: Trust?

Sheikh Abdullah: Trust. I think he and his government have been saying the right things. It’s clear that they don’t have the capacity, at the moment, in fulfilling their messages. I really hope that lifting these sanctions would provide them with these capacities, but we have to verify. I mean, this is what President Reagan once said: "Trust, but verify.”

Bret Baier: You’re plugged into a lot of these things around the region, but rebuilding is going to be a big part of it when Gaza’s over, when Syria’s finished, Lebanon. Is the UAE going to be a big part of rebuilding?

Sheikh Abdullah: Bret, I think the region is moving away from just giving away easy money. It depends on the conditions of the rebuilding. Is there the right combination of countries who are party to it? So, it’s not about an individual country or a small number of countries who are just going to come and throw in money.

Bret Baier: Last thing. Look into the crystal ball: two years, five years, ten years. UAE and the Middle East. What do you see?

Sheikh Abdullah: I see a lot of hope. Bret, this is a country which is just over 50 years old, since its federation. Just 15 years before that, so 65 years ago, we had our first hospital, believe it or not, built by an American missionary and I’m delighted to say that last year we had over a million Americans coming and visiting the UAE. It tells you a lot about how safe, how prosperous and how exciting this part of the world is.

Bret Baier: So you see good things?

Sheikh Abdullah: I see good things. I mean, I wouldn’t be in this job if I was not optimistic.

Bret Baier: Yeah. Your Highness, we really appreciate your time thank you very much.

Sheikh Abdullah: Thank you.

WAM