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UAE playing the role of a bridge builder in an era of divisions and disputes

 

The UAE, a small Gulf state, has demonstrated a masterclass in foreign diplomacy by being able to speak to different sides on numerous issues. This approach has allowed the UAE to navigate through the chaos of global instability, as seen in Modern Diplomacy. The raging Gaza conflict in the Middle East is not the only pressing issue facing the global community. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is approaching its second anniversary, and the US and China’s rivalry is also in focus.

The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service recently confirmed 2023 as the hottest year on record, with temperatures in January 2024 also exceeding records. The mean temperature for February 2023 to January 2024 remains the highest on record, 1.52 degrees Celsius above the 1850–1990 pre-industrial reference period. Climate change is a raging issue, but it does not imply a permanent breach of the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold set by the 2015 Paris agreement.

The UAE has played a role in bridge building, such as adopting Resolution 2720, which called for increasing the flow of life-saving humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The UAE has opened a field hospital in Gaza and launched an initiative to transfer injured Palestinians to UAE hospitals for medical treatment.

The UAE’s mediation efforts have helped facilitate three prisoner exchange deals between Russia and Ukraine this year, highlighting its global status as a trusted partner on the international stage. The UAE is committed to finding a peaceful solution to the conflict, focusing on diplomacy, dialogue, and de-escalation.

In January 2024, the UAE became one of the new entrants to the BRICS+ club, alongside Saudi Arabia. Being in the global grouping maximizes a nation’s reach to different parts of the world. The UAE’s focus on sustainability at COP28 Dubai has also been notable, with participants reaching a historic agreement to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund to compensate vulnerable countries for climate change consequences and acknowledging the need to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

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