US urges Arab allies to steer clear of Assad after UAE visit
THE US criticised the UAE yesterday for “legitimising” Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad by becoming the first Arab country to host the dictator since the war began over a decade ago.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Assad’s surprise trip on Friday had “profoundly disappointed” the US and urged allies to avoid normalising ties with a regime accused of “horrific atrocities”.
“We are profoundly disappointed and troubled by this apparent attempt to legitimise Bashar al-Assad,” who “remains responsible and accountable for the death and suffering of countless Syrians,” Mr Price said.
The visit was the latest sign of warming relations between Syria and energyrich UAE, a key US ally. It came as Russia, which backs Damascus and also has solid ties with the Emirates, pressed its war on Ukraine.
Like most Arab countries, the UAE broke ties with Damascus in 2012, following the eruption of civil war. But it reopened its embassy in 2018.
On Friday, Assad and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE’s de facto ruler, discussed the “fraternal relations” the official news agency Wam reported. Talks also centred on efforts to “contribute to the consolidation of security, stability and peace in the Arab region and the Middle East”, said Wam.
Sheikh Mohammed said he hoped the visit would “pave the way for goodness, peace and stability to prevail in Syria and the entire region”, Wam added.