US Secretary of State Blinken holds talks with UAE de facto chief Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Morocco.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has sought to guarantee Gulf monarchies that Washington is decided to assist them fend off assaults from the Houthi insurgent group in Yemen as he urged regional allies to “converse out” in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Blinken made the remarks on Tuesday in Morocco, the place he met the United Arab Emirates’ de facto chief Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and senior Moroccan officers.
The journey comes within the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which together with sanctions in opposition to Moscow has despatched wheat and gas costs hovering in a severe blow to import-dependent North African international locations.
Talking to journalists in Rabat, Blinken mentioned the US recognised the “catastrophe” the provision crunch had precipitated.
“We’re discussing concrete steps we will take … to assist cut back the affect, notably on probably the most weak populations,” he mentioned.
Blinken additionally mentioned he was “encouraging companions to talk out in opposition to Russian aggression” and mentioned he doubted Russia’s “seriousness” in talks with Ukraine held in Turkey.
Washington’s prime diplomat flew to Rabat late Monday from Israel, the place he had met his counterparts from the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain and Egypt, underlining a seismic shift since 2020 in relations between Arab international locations and Israel.
On Tuesday he met Moroccan International Minister Nasser Bourita for discussions together with on the Western Sahara dispute and safety cooperation.
The identical topics will loom giant in conferences the next day with Morocco’s regional rival Algeria, after months of deteriorating relations between Rabat and Algiers.
Tensions with UAE
Blinken met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed – typically dubbed “MBZ” – as Washington warily watches longtime ally the UAE diverging from lots of its insurance policies.
The UAE has kept away from criticising Russia, even sending its prime diplomat to Moscow. It additionally lately hosted Syrian chief Bashar al-Assad and has expressed unease with makes an attempt by the administration of US President Joe Biden to revive the languishing Iran nuclear deal.
“We’ve got actual challenges to confront collectively, within the area and past,” Blinken mentioned initially of the assembly with Sheikh Mohammed on the crown prince’s non-public residence in Rabat.
He mentioned the US was “decided to do all the pieces we will that will help you defend yourselves” in opposition to assaults by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who’ve lately stepped up rocket strikes on each the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
He pledged to seek the advice of with the Emiratis on the Iran nuclear negotiations and in addition in coping with the results on international power and meals safety brought on by Russia’s conflict on Ukraine.
Western Sahara
Forward of a go to to Algeria on Wednesday, Blinken additionally explored choices for serving to finish the neighbours’ dispute over the previous Spanish colony of Western Sahara after new developments.
Morocco controls 80 p.c of the realm together with a key freeway in the direction of West Africa, whereas the remaining – a desert area bordering Mauritania and Algeria – is run by the Polisario Entrance independence motion.
Former US President Donald Trump in 2020 recognised the area as sovereign Moroccan territory in a break with a long time of US coverage, after Rabat agreed to re-establish relations with Israel underneath the so-called Abraham Accords.
Biden’s administration has been tight-lipped on the way it will comply with up on the transfer, which got here simply weeks after the Polisario Entrance declared a 1991 ceasefire null and void, sparking fears that the long-frozen battle might flare up once more.
Bourita on Tuesday referred to as on European states to comply with Spain in backing a Moroccan plan for autonomy there underneath Rabat’s sovereignty.
“We predict it’s time for Europe … to get out of this consolation zone the place persons are simply supporting a course of that doesn’t imply supporting an answer,” he mentioned.
“There’s a consensus that the answer must be inside Moroccan sovereignty and the Moroccan plan of autonomy.”
Blinken mentioned Washington continues “to view Morocco’s autonomy plan as severe, credible and real looking”.
The US Division of State mentioned in a report Monday that it helps the plan and the work of Staffan de Mistura, envoy of the United Nations – which sees the territory as a “non-self-governing territory”.