UAE and US to Deepen Partnership in Clean Energy, Foreign Policy, and Space Exploration

The UAE and the US have reaffirmed their strong partnership by releasing a joint statement that focuses on key areas such as clean energy, climate resilience, foreign policy, and space exploration. This follows the first official visit by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed to the White House, where he held talks with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Clean Energy Collaboration- UAE and US

The UAE and the US have renewed their commitment to sustainability through the Partnership to Accelerate Clean Energy (Pace). Both nations are dedicated to investing in Africa, aiming to end energy poverty across sub-Saharan Africa. Launched in 2022, Pace aims to mobilize $100 billion and generate 100 gigawatts of clean energy globally by 2035.

Notable UAE-based companies like Averi Finance, Amea Power, and Phanes are playing a major role, with Averi Finance set to enable $5 billion in investments in Africa. The company aims to build 3 gigawatts of power generation projects and more than 3,000 km of transmission lines. Meanwhile, Amea Power plans to generate 5 gigawatts of renewable energy in Africa by 2030, with an investment of $5 billion.

Additionally, Adnoc has announced a 35% stake in ExxonMobil’s low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia plant in Texas, producing up to 900,000 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia annually. This move supports the global transition to cleaner fuels in hard-to-abate sectors.

Plynth Energy, an Abu Dhabi-based fund, has also invested in Zap Energy, a US company focused on small-format commercial fusion technology.

Economic Goals and the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor

The leaders discussed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, which aims to boost global economic growth by connecting India to Europe through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Greece. The project will reduce costs, create jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions through an efficient ship-to-rail network.

In the field of artificial intelligence (AI), the UAE’s Group 42 (G42) secured $1.5 billion in investments from Microsoft, further advancing its operations. G42 has also partnered with Nvidia to develop AI solutions for weather forecasting via Earth-2.

Foreign Policy and Conflict Resolution

Sheikh Mohamed and President Biden discussed various regional issues, including efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the dispute over Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa islands, occupied by Iran since 1971. They stressed the need for bilateral negotiations or a resolution via the International Court of Justice.

The two leaders also focused on finding a resolution to the Gaza conflict, calling for a sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages. President Biden praised the UAE’s humanitarian response, including the launch of a maritime aid corridor, opening a field hospital, and evacuating the wounded from Gaza.

On Sudan, both leaders voiced concern about the ongoing civil war, calling for an immediate end to hostilities, humanitarian aid delivery, and the prevention of terrorist networks’ emergence. They emphasized accountability for war crimes, especially in the Darfur region.

Expanding Space Exploration

The UAE and US are set to deepen their collaboration in space exploration, with Emirati engineers working closely with Nasa. The two countries are building on past successes, including the UAE’s Hope probe and the training of four Emirati astronauts at Nasa.

President Sheikh Mohamed and President Biden discussed Nasa’s Gateway station, a planned outpost to orbit the Moon. Under a new agreement, the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) will develop an airlock for the station in exchange for placing an Emirati astronaut on a future Gateway mission.

This agreement follows Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi’s historic spacewalk during his six-month mission on the International Space Station, a first for the Arab world.

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