U.S. Wants to Reset Relationship With UAE, High-Level Visit Was Start
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Wednesday, May 18, 2022!
The succession of a new president of the United Arab Emirates gave the United States an opportunity to start resetting a shaky relationship. Ties between the two countries had been described as going through a stress test, and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris made clear that the UAE is a friend and partner. The UAE will expect more than good words and will look for stronger security assistance, after criticizing the U.S. for a slow response to missile attacks by Yemen's Houthis.
Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies lost seats in Lebanon's new parliament after general elections; a commercial air flight from Yemen's Sanaa to Jordan carried patients who had waited years to leave for treatment, and Saudi Arabia's deputy minister of defense and younger brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is in Washington for security talks.
Food price protests in Iran spread across the country and into the central province of Isfahan; Libya's capital of Tripoli is rocked by fighting between forces of two competing prime ministers, and Saudi Arabia plans to add a billion barrels a day to its oil output.
And news about Saudi Aramco, Yemen's central bank, Russia's missiles in Syria, and More.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called the United Arab Emirates "friend" and "partner" in a clear effort to strengthen ties with the UAE. The visit by the Biden administration's top officials to Abu Dhabi was, Harris said, to "reaffirm the shared commitment we have to security and prosperity in this region and also how the American people have benefited from this relationship in terms of security and prosperity." The new president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is described as feeling a lack of respect from the Biden administration, a stark contrast to close ties under the Trump administration.
The Hill, US seeks to reset relationship with oil-rich UAE.
Russia's war in Ukraine deepened the rift between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. In March, the UAE abstained from voting on a U.S.-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution condemning the Russian invasion, and the UAE's ambassador to the U.S., Yousef Al-Otaiba, described the relationship between the two countries as "going through a stress test." U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris led a high-level delegation of U.S. officials to pay respects following the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Although her visit with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, successor as president, lasted less than an hour, it was enough to demonstrate strong U.S. interest, with top cabinet officials in the delegation.
Al-Monitor, Harris stresses US-Emirati partnership after MBZ meeting.
Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies lost their majority in Lebanon's parliament. The results of the Lebanese general election dealt a major blow to Hezbollah, a heavily-armed group, and reflected anger with Lebanon's ruling elite. Hezbollah won 62 of parliament's 128 seats.
Reuters Hezbollah and allies lose majority in Lebanese parliament, final results show.
A dozen independents won new seats in Lebanon's parliament in a breakthrough. The vote demonstrated public anger at Lebanon's financial collapse and lack of accountability for a Beirut port blast in 2020 that leveled the city. The newcomers won votes from different sects across the country, chipping away at the hold of established political parties in the 128-member parliament.
Reuters, A dozen independent newcomers elected to Lebanon parliament, Reuters tally of official results show.
Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Lebanon took a swipe at Hezbollah after it lost seats in parliament. Without singling out Hezbollah by name, the Saudi diplomat called the armed group a "statelet" with "absurd excesses." Ambassador Waleed al Bukhari tweeted that the result "proves the inevitability that the logic of the state will win against the absurd excesses of the statelet disrupting political life and stability in Lebanon.”
Reuters, Saudi envoy to Lebanon takes apparent swipe at Hezbollah after vote.
A commercial air flight from Yemen's Sanaa to Jordan's capital of Amman, the first since 2016, was welcomed by patients who had waited years for medical treatment and as a sign that a truce between warring sides in Yemen might hold. The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen controls the air space, and a two-month truce started on April 2.
Reuters, First commercial flight takes off from Sanaa, raising hopes for Yemen peace.
Saudi Arabia's deputy minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, is visiting Washington this week for talks on Yemen peace and the Russian-Ukraine war. Prince Khalid is a son of King Salman and younger brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi ruler. He was scheduled to meet with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Pentagon officials as he leads a Saudi delegation in meetings of the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Joint Planning Committee.
Axios, Saudi deputy defense minister in D.C. for high-level meetings.
Russian forces in Syria fired missiles at Israeli jets for the first time. The incident was reported to have occurred last week as Israeli air forces bombed targets near the city of Masyaf in northwestern Syria If confirmed, the missile firing could signal a significant shift in Moscow's attitude to Israel.
Times of Israel, In first, Russian military said to fire S-300 missiles at Israeli jets over Syria.
More food protests broke out across Iran as demonstrators in the central province of Isfahan chanted against Iran's clerical leaders. Activists reported at least six deaths since protests began last week and then spread through the provinces of Khuzestan, Lorestan, Charmahal-Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, and Ardebil. The government had announced that costs of basic foods such as cooking oil, milk, chicken, and eggs could rise as much as 300 percent.
Al Arabiya, Iran protests spread to major central province; unofficial death toll rises to six.
An Iranian member of parliament said top diplomats of Saudi Arabia and Iran will meet soon to discuss reopening embassies, but Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said there has been "no new development." Saeed Khatibzadeh said "no new developments have taken place since the last round of talks," but that a number of issues remain on the agenda, such as how the talks will continue.
Reuters, Iran says no development in Tehran-Riyadh talks, MP says top envoys to meet.
Israel said Iran is working on advanced uranium centrifuges at a new underground location, giving figures beyond those cited by the United Nations. Centrifuges are used to purify uranium for civilian projects or, at higher levels, to make bomb fuel.
Reuters, Israel says Iran working on advanced centrifuges at new underground sites.
Gunfire rocked Libya's capital of Tripoli in clashes between forces supporting two rival prime ministers. Fathi Bashagha, chosen by Israel's parliament, entered Tripoli but left within hours, citing the "security and safety of citizens." He had attempted to remove the opposition interim prime minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, when fighting took place, with one death reported.
AFP, Libva capital rocked by deadly battle as rival PM vies for power.
Saudi Arabia expects to increase its oil production capability by more than a million barrels per day. Energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said the kingdom is on track to lift its capacity to more than 13 million barrels a day by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
Reuters, Saudi Arabia set for oil output capacity above 13 million barrels per day by 2027, minister says.
Saudi Arabia's oil minister said gasoline will remain expensive because there's not enough refining capacity. There are "physical impediments that no producer can solve," Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said. "There is no refining capacity commensurate with the current demand and the expectation of the demand in the summer."
Transport Topics, OPEC+ ministers say pumping more oil wouldn't ease gas prices.
Saudi Aramco is considering an IPO for its trading unit, with a valuation of more than $30 billion. The state-run oil giant would use an initial public offering for its Aramco Trading to raise funding, following Aramco's own IPO in 2019. The IPO would come as oil prices surge.
Business Insider, Saudi Aramco is reportedly considering an IPO for its trading unit as oil prices soar.
Saudi Arabia extended a deposit in Yemen's central bank and will pay the final installment of $174 million. The kingdom's finance ministry said the deposit, made in 2018, would be extended to support Yemen's currency and economic situation.
Reuters, Saudi extends 2018 deposit at Yemen central bank, pays final installment.
Egypt says the United States should pressure Ethiopia to resolve the dispute over the controversial Nile River dam. Egypt's ambassador to the U.S., Motaz Zahran, said: "We haven't seen that kind of pressure for the past year, and what is needed to continue the effort that had been spearheaded by the previous administration."
Al Araybiya, Egypt says US should use leverage, pressure on Ethiopia to resolve dam issue.
MORE: U.S. holding up energy deal between Egypt and Lebanon: Ambassador, Al Arabiya... Saudi Arabia and Kuwait pressing ahead at Durra despite Iran's resistance, Upstream... Egypt affirms importance of strategic ties with the US, Asharq Al-Awsat... About 200 tons of wheat bought by Egypt stranded in Ukraine, Financial Express... Saudi king chairs cabinet as ministers call for balanced energy shift, Reuters... Biden approves redeployment of some ground troops for Somalia, Reuters.
News You Missed
He’s renowned across the Middle East and in Western capitals for his inquisitive mind and understated demeanor. Particularly, the new president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, known as MBZ, is close to Saudi Arabia's crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS. Sheikh Mohammed played a large role in marketing the young Saudi prince in the United States, branding him as the future of Saudi Arabia after King Salman ascended the throne in 2015.
New York Times, Mohammed bin Zayed, an ambitious U.S. partner, rises to lead the U.A.E.
As the United States and Europe try to deprive Russia of oil and gas income, they look to Qatar to help fill the void. The war in Ukraine has seen Qatar's geopolitical importance growing, and "the stars are all aligned for Qatar to become a very significant L.N.G. export to Europe."
New York Times, The West's scramble for gas could enrich and empower tiny Qatar.