Biden and Harris hold talks with UAE leader about Sudan and Gaza

Biden and Harris hold talks with UAE leader about Sudan and Gaza

U.S. President Joe Biden met with UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday to discuss conflicts in Sudan and the broader Middle East.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is also holding talks with the Emirati leader at the White House, marking his first-ever visit to Washington as the president of the oil-rich nation.

Following their discussions, Biden and HH Sheikh Mohamed released a joint statement expressing "shared concern over the potential for imminent atrocities" amid ongoing fighting in Sudan’s conflict-ridden Darfur region.

The two leaders urged for an "immediate" ceasefire in Sudan’s civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and a resumption of political negotiations.

The statement emphasized that "all parties involved in the conflict in Sudan must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law."

Their meeting occurred ahead of the UN General Assembly's upcoming debate on the 17-month conflict, with a focus on the fighting in the devastated city of El-Fasher.

Israel’s war on Gaza was another central topic, with the UAE anticipated to play a significant role in Gaza’s eventual post-war reconstruction.

Biden, 81, nearing the end of his presidency, said after shaking hands with HH Sheikh Mohamed that they would "discuss efforts to end the war in Gaza and various other issues."

He mentioned being updated on the situation in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds had resulted in hundreds of casualties, and added that he was "working to de-escalate" the situation.

Biden also praised the UAE, calling it a "nation of trailblazers, always looking to the future, always taking bold steps" and highlighted its emerging role as a "major defense partner" of the U.S.

Kamala Harris met with the UAE leader separately at the White House.