Lead:
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, conducted a series of high-level telephone consultations with his counterparts from Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt on Sunday. The calls addressed pressing regional developments at a moment of heightened diplomatic activity across the Middle East. Separately, the UAE welcomed a significant upgrade in its export control classification by the United States, underscoring the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries.
Details:
According to Al Khaleej, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed held two separate phone calls with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, and with Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, to discuss the latest regional developments. The Qatari side confirmed the call from its own end, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman receiving the UAE minister, according to WAM-sourced reporting carried by Al Khaleej. The discussions were described as covering overall regional stability, though no specific agreements or joint statements were announced.
Al Khaleej further reports that Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed held an additional telephone call with Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, covering regional conditions and areas of bilateral coordination. The three calls collectively signal an intensification of Gulf and Arab diplomatic consultations at the highest levels, with the UAE positioning itself as an active mediator and stakeholder in regional affairs.
On a separate diplomatic front, Al Khaleej reports that the UAE welcomed the United States government's decision to upgrade the UAE's classification to the A5 category under the US export control framework. Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Minister of State and Ambassador to the United States, confirmed the development, describing it as a reflection of the depth and maturity of bilateral relations. The A5 designation grants the UAE significantly expanded access to advanced US technologies and defense-related exports, representing a concrete marker of strategic trust between the two nations.
Also notable, Al Khaleej reports that the UAE strongly rejected claims made by the Port Sudan authority's representative during an open United Nations Security Council session, denouncing them as baseless, and accusing the Port Sudan authorities of committing what it termed shameful and disgraceful crimes against the Sudanese people.
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