Emirati President Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed (MBZ) is keen on strengthening strategic relations with China across various fields.
MBZ’s decision was reinforced by the joint statement issued following his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on 30/5/2024.
However, he intends to maintain a balanced relationship between China and the U.S.
The note provides a comprehensive overview of the following aspects:
- The fields eyed for cooperation with China
- MBZ strategic defense priorities
- His plan to balance between the U.S. and China
The note also highlights MBZ’s senior advisors’ views on procuring F-35 fighter jets.
The U.S. has been closely monitoring Emirati-Chinese relations due to concerns about China's increasing involvement in the Middle East, potentially impacting the longstanding strategic alliance between the U.S. and the UAE.
