UAE, France discuss ties, regional issues

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, during his working visit to Paris.

During the meeting, they reviewed the longstanding strategic relations between the UAE and France, and discussed ways to enhance and develop them across various fields, reflecting the depth of the partnership between the two friendly countries and their mutual keenness to expand their horizons in the coming period.

Sheikh Abdullah and Jean-Noël Barrot also discussed several regional and international issues of joint interest and exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East, and the serious escalation following the blatant Iranian missile attacks that targeted the UAE and other fraternal and friendly countries.

They also reviewed the importance of intensifying international efforts to support peaceful solution pathways and to enhance regional and international security and stability.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed emphasised that UAE-French relations represent an outstanding model of strategic partnerships based on fruitful and constructive cooperation, noting that the coming period holds promising opportunities to enhance cooperation, especially in vital priority sectors.

The meeting was attended by Saeed Bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, Minister of State; Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability; and Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to France.

Recently, Sheikh Abdullah held phone calls with several foreign ministers to discuss the latest regional developments and the implications of the blatant Iranian missile attacks targeting the UAE and a number of brotherly nations.

During the phone calls with the ministers, Sheikh Abdullah affirmed the safety of all residents and visitors in the UAE.

The calls addressed the serious repercussions of the current escalation on regional security and stability, and the potential direct threat it poses to international peace and security, as well as its possible impact on global economic stability and energy security.

WAM